“‘A Lovely Garland’ (Tamakazura): Tamatori-ama,” from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase) 1845 - 1846

This print, ‘A Lovely Garland,’ was made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 19th century Japan, using woodblock printing. Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," are defined by their process: designs are carved into wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. This allows for mass production, which speaks to the rise of a merchant class with money to spend on art. Look closely, and you'll see the layered effect created by the successive application of different colors – each requiring a separate block. Here, the bold lines defining the figure of the ama diver and the octopus highlight the graphic quality of the print, while the flat planes of color emphasize its artificiality. There's a tension here between the natural world depicted and the mechanical means of its production. The print’s accessibility is a key part of its appeal, and speaks to the growing consumer culture of the time. The making of this work reveals much about the society that produced it, underscoring the importance of considering the circumstances of creation when interpreting any artwork.