Entertainers of Tachibana (Kitchugi), from the series "A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Tosei yuri bijin awase)" c. 1781

Torii Kiyonaga created this woodblock print, Entertainers of Tachibana, using paper, ink, and color. The print is from a series called “A Collection of Contemporary Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters.” Woodblock printing is an involved process, and the number of impressions that can be made from a single block is limited. To make a print like this, the design is first drawn and then transferred to a woodblock, which is carefully carved, leaving the design raised. Ink is applied to the surface, and then a sheet of paper is laid on the block and rubbed to transfer the ink. Each color requires a separate block and careful alignment, resulting in an image built up layer by layer. The technique allowed Kiyonaga to create multiple copies of the same image, meeting a growing demand for art among the merchant classes. The printmaking process, thus, makes art accessible to a broader audience, outside the traditional elite circles. By emphasizing the materials, the making, and the historical context, we gain a fuller understanding of the artwork. This approach challenges the distinction between high art and craft.