Small Bird on a Branch of Kaidozakura 1838

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige's "Small Bird on a Branch of Kaidozakura," made in 1838, a woodblock print with beautiful watercolors. I am really drawn to its serene quality, particularly how delicate and detailed the bird seems in contrast to the flowers. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It’s interesting to think about this image as a product of its time. Consider the labour involved in creating ukiyo-e prints. Each color requires a separate block, painstakingly carved. This wasn’t solitary work, it involved artists, carvers, printers, and publishers; each playing a crucial part. Does understanding this change how you view the composition, perhaps the subtle variations in the inking or the precise lines of the bird? Editor: Definitely! It emphasizes how collaborative this was and I never considered the consumption aspect. The printmaking allowed mass production of artwork. Curator: Exactly! Think about how this allowed for a wider distribution of imagery. Woodblock printing democratized art in a way, moving it away from solely aristocratic circles, to wider public consumption. Ukiyo-e prints became accessible commodities that fuelled the artistic creativity. Editor: That perspective has completely shifted my understanding of the artwork's importance! Now, thinking of this piece within its manufacturing process as a desirable good changes everything for me. Curator: Precisely! It makes one appreciate the means and production, distribution, and also understand more thoroughly the consumption that informed such cultural prints. Editor: I’m starting to realize how understanding the making can bring social background context for further investigation, thank you!