The Actor Segawa Kikujiro I as Oshichi in the play "Shochikubai Kongen Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the third month, 1732 1732

This 1732 woodblock print by Nishimura Shigenobu depicts the actor Segawa Kikujiro I in the role of Oshichi. It's important to understand that woodblock prints like this weren't just images; they were products of a complex system of labor. The artist designed the image, but skilled block cutters then painstakingly carved the design into separate woodblocks—one for each color. Printers then applied ink to these blocks and carefully pressed them onto paper, building up the image layer by layer. The resulting print has a distinctive character. Look at the delicate lines that define the actor’s features and costume, made possible by the nature of the wood. The flat, vibrant colors are also a direct result of the printing process. Prints like this were relatively affordable and widely distributed, making them a vital part of the popular culture in Japan. They remind us that even seemingly simple images can be the result of a complex interplay of art, craft, and commerce.