View of Sumida River c. 1840 - 1842

Utagawa Hiroshige created this print of the Sumida River using woodblocks and a technique known as *ukiyo-e*. This wasn't exactly "fine art"; *ukiyo-e* prints were made for a mass market. Carving the blocks was itself a skilled undertaking, often done by specialized artisans rather than the artist themselves. The key block, defining the image, would be cut first. Then, additional blocks would be prepared for each color. The print's visual qualities come directly from this process. The flat, clearly delineated areas of color, the crispness of line, and the overall graphic impact are all testaments to the labor and skill involved. Think about the sheer number of impressions that would have been pulled from these blocks, one after the other. Hiroshige’s image, therefore, is not only of a famous river, but also of a whole system of production. By understanding the processes behind it, we can appreciate the artistry and industry intertwined in this seemingly simple print.