Beauty of Ibarakiya Pulling at a Man's Umbrella - a Parody of the Legend of Watanabe no Tsuna and the Ibaraki Demon c. 1759

Torii Kiyohiro made this parody woodblock print around 1750. The medium itself is critical to understanding the image. Woodblock printing in Japan was an intensely collaborative process, dividing labor between the artist, the block carver, the printer, and the publisher, reflecting an economy of skilled craftsmanship. Here, lines are incised into a block of wood to create the image. These lines define not only the contours of the figures, but also the intricate patterns of their garments, capturing the textures of the fabrics. The materiality of the wood is further revealed in the subtle grain that peeks through the colors, particularly in the background. This adds depth and tactility to the scene. The print invites a reading that acknowledges the labor and skill embedded in the production of the print itself, alongside its playful depiction of a well-known legend. It’s a reminder that the aesthetic value of an artwork cannot be separated from the processes and social context of its making.