The Actor Segawa Senjo (Kikunojo III) as the wife of Amakawaya Gihei in the play "Kanadehon Chushingura," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the fifth month, 1776 1776

This print of an actor by Torii Kiyomitsu was made in 1776 using woodblocks and colored inks. Woodblock printing demanded intense collaboration, and the division of labor. The artist prepared the initial design, and then a block carver would transfer it onto a series of wooden blocks – one for each color. The printer then inked and pressed these blocks onto paper in sequence, building up the image layer by layer. Here, the flat planes of color are bounded by crisp black outlines, a testament to the carver’s skill. Notice the subtle gradations of tone in the woman’s blue robe, achieved by carefully controlling the amount of ink applied to the block. The print is not just an image, but an accumulation of many skilled actions. Recognizing the amount of labor it took to produce this image helps us appreciate the vibrancy of Japan's mid-18th century popular culture, and also the ingenuity of the artisans who supported it. Appreciating this artwork means understanding both the image and its making.