November (Hatsushimatsuki), from the series Fashions of the Twelve Months (FÅ«ryÅ« shiki no tsuki mairi) 

Editor: This is Torii Kiyonaga's "November (Hatsushimatsuki)" woodblock print, part of the "Fashions of the Twelve Months" series. I’m struck by the detailed rendering of the kimonos. What can you tell me about the process and materials used to create this print? Curator: The woodblock printing process itself is crucial. Consider the layers of labor involved: the artist's design, the block carver's skill, and the printer's expertise in applying pigments to paper. The very materiality of the print—the paper, ink, and wood—speaks to a complex system of artisanal production and distribution in Edo-period Japan. How does this materiality influence your perception? Editor: It makes me think about the value placed on craft and the accessibility of art through printmaking. Thanks for shedding light on the production! Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about the labor transforms how we value such works.