Whitebait on bamboo leaves c. 1810s

Baikei created this print of whitebait on bamboo leaves in nineteenth-century Japan, using woodblock printing. This technique involves carving an image in relief on a block of wood, inking it, and then pressing paper against it to transfer the image. It's a labor-intensive process demanding skilled craftsmanship. Consider the layered nature of the work. The delicacy of the whitebait is rendered through subtle gradations of ink, giving the fish a translucent, almost ethereal quality. This contrasts with the sharper lines of the bamboo leaves, creating a play of textures and forms. Woodblock prints like this one were commercial products, made for a growing urban audience. These prints were relatively inexpensive, so could be widely acquired and enjoyed. Yet the artistry involved elevates the work. In the end, Baikei encourages us to consider how the division between craft and fine art is really more of a spectrum.