Ikushima Shingoro as a Bushi (Samurai) and Ogino Yaegiri as a Woman with A girl Attendant 1707 - 1711

Okumura Masanobu created this woodblock print depicting Ikushima Shingoro and Ogino Yaegiri. The flat, graphic style is a direct result of the Ukiyo-e woodblock printing process. To create this image, a key block would have been carved to define the outlines, and then additional blocks for the areas of solid color, likely grey or brown, and then printed in layers. Note the precise carving required to achieve details like the intricate patterns on the figures' kimonos. Woodblock prints like this were relatively inexpensive and produced in large numbers, making art accessible to a wide audience. The subject matter, depicting popular actors, reflects the tastes of the urban middle class. Masanobu masterfully used the limitations of the medium to create a striking and memorable image. This print reminds us that the value of art lies not only in its subject matter but also in the skill and ingenuity of the artist in utilizing the materials and processes at hand.