Kuwana 

Katsushika Hokusai’s ‘Kuwana’ is a woodblock print, likely created in the early 19th century, using a technique known as ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." The flat planes of color and bold outlines, key characteristics of the print, are achieved through a labor-intensive process. The artist would have first created a master drawing. Skilled artisans then transferred this design onto a series of woodblocks, one for each color. The paper was pressed against the inked blocks, and the image gradually built up. It's a process deeply rooted in craft and collaboration. The texture of the wood is almost imperceptible in the final print, but its capacity to make multiples allowed for wider distribution of imagery, and this tied into a growing consumer culture. The work offers a glimpse into the economic life of Japan at the time, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commodity.