Lady Descending from a Court Carriage c. 1801 - 1804

Kitagawa Utamaro created *Lady Descending from a Court Carriage* as a woodblock print, a medium which was anything but simple. To make these images, the artist would draw the composition and transfer it to a wood block, where a carver would painstakingly cut away the negative space. Each color required a separate block, demanding precision and skill. Looking at the image, consider the labor that went into the production of such prints. Woodblock printing in Japan wasn't just about making art, it was about circulating information and culture. The texture of the paper, the crisp lines, and the subtle gradations of color all speak to the handcraft involved in creating these works. Utamaro made many such prints, which were relatively inexpensive, and affordable for a rising middle class. Ultimately, the beauty and impact of this artwork lie in the intersection of artistic vision, technical skill, and the socio-economic context of its production.