Portrait of Sugino Juheiji Tsugifusa 1852

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this woodblock print of Sugino Juheiji Tsugifusa, a historical figure, using multiple blocks of carved wood for each color. The printmaking process would have involved a team of artisans. First the artist, Kuniyoshi, designs the image. Skilled block cutters then painstakingly carve separate blocks, one for each color. Finally, printers apply the colors in sequence, aligning each block precisely to build up the final image. Notice how the flat planes of color emphasize the graphic quality of the image. The repeated patterns on Sugino's sleeve contrast with the intricate tattoos that adorn his skin, demonstrating the range of effects possible with this meticulous process. Woodblock printing like this wasn't just a way to make art. It was a whole industry, supporting artists, artisans, and distributors, all working within the framework of 19th-century Japanese society. When we consider prints like this, we see how deeply art is connected to the world of materials, labor, and the wider cultural landscape.