One Hundred Stories of Demons and Spirits 

Kitagawa Utamaro’s print, *One Hundred Stories of Demons and Spirits* was made with woodblocks and ink, in a process that was extremely sophisticated. Notice how Utamaro uses a limited number of colors, to great effect. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it speaks to the economics of printmaking at the time. Each color required a separate block, painstakingly carved. The more blocks, the more labor, and the higher the cost. Utamaro makes the most of this limitation. The flat, unmodulated colors lend an otherworldly feel, which of course is perfect for the subject matter. And what about that? Utamaro was a master of *ukiyo-e*, or “pictures of the floating world.” Usually, this meant beautiful women, Kabuki actors, and landscapes. But here, he turns his attention to the supernatural, and he doesn’t hold back! The ghoulish figures are rendered with the same attention to detail as his more conventional subjects. This print reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward image is the product of complex choices, both artistic and economic. It challenges the divide between popular entertainment and fine art, and shows us that even demons can be beautiful.