The Ninth Month 1757 - 1777

Ishikawa Toyomasa’s "The Ninth Month," made in Japan around the late 1700s, is a woodblock print, a medium intimately connected to the rise of a consumer culture. Notice the flat planes of color, the crisp outlines, and the way the scene is composed. Woodblock prints were often produced in workshops, involving the labor of designers, carvers, printers, and publishers. It was a real division of labor. The prints were created in multiples, they were relatively affordable, and they were widely distributed. This all contributed to a boom in the circulation of images and ideas, reflecting and shaping contemporary tastes. In this print, we see figures playfully engaged in what appears to be a game. The meticulous carving and printing process allows for a high level of detail, from the patterns on the kimonos to the delicate rendering of the chrysanthemums. By understanding the processes and conditions of its making, we can appreciate "The Ninth Month" not just as a beautiful image, but as a window into a world of cultural production.