The actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu III as Onayo 1794

Tōshūsai Sharaku created this woodblock print of the actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu III as Onayo, sometime in the late 18th century. The making of Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, involved a division of labor and a series of distinct processes. First, the artist created a design. Then, specialized wood carvers meticulously transferred that design onto multiple woodblocks, one for each color. Finally, skilled printers applied ink to the blocks and pressed them onto paper, layering colors to create the final image. Consider the actor's robe. The check pattern would have required precise carving and registration. The labor-intensive process of ukiyo-e reflects the demands of a growing urban audience, eager for images of popular actors and fashionable life. The widespread consumption of ukiyo-e prints challenges conventional hierarchies between art and craft. The prints were commercial objects, yet they demanded exceptional artistry and technical skill. Appreciating the making is key to understanding their cultural significance.