Looking warm - The Appearance of an Urban Widow of the Kansei era 

This print, *Looking warm - The Appearance of an Urban Widow of the Kansei era* by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, was made with woodblocks, a quintessential technique of Japanese printmaking. The process of making woodblock prints is incredibly labor-intensive. Each color requires a separate block, meticulously carved by highly skilled artisans. Look at the subtle gradations of color in the woman's robe, and the crisp lines defining her hair. These details speak to the expertise required, and the social hierarchies of production involved. The publisher would have commissioned the artist, who then relied on block carvers and printers. Woodblock prints like this one were not considered high art in their own time. Rather, they were a popular, relatively inexpensive form of visual culture, consumed by a broad audience. The subject matter here is a woman, identifiable by her clothing as a widow, who appears to be working. This image offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in the Kansei era. By attending to the material and the modes of production of this print, we can appreciate its artistic value as well as its social and historical significance.