111. Meguro Drum Bridge and Sunset Hill 1857

Utagawa Hiroshige created "Meguro Drum Bridge and Sunset Hill" as a woodblock print. The materials themselves—wood, ink, and paper—speak to a rich tradition of Japanese printmaking known as ukiyo-e. The process begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry. Specialist carvers use a variety of knives and chisels to painstakingly remove the wood around the lines of the image. Separate blocks are needed for each color, requiring precise alignment. Damp paper is then laid on the inked block and rubbed to transfer the image. This printmaking process, though highly skilled, was also an industrial one. Ukiyo-e prints were produced in large numbers, becoming accessible to a wide audience. Hiroshige's work reflects both the beauty of the natural world and its transformation into a commodity, consumed by an increasingly urban population. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly delicate artwork is rooted in labor, production, and social context.