Warrior Taira no Tadanori about to Sleep under a Cherry Tree 1884

Kobayashi Kiyochika created this print of Warrior Taira no Tadanori using woodblocks, a process central to the visual culture of the Edo period in Japan. The woodblock technique involves carving an image into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. Each color requires a separate block, demanding meticulous carving and alignment. Notice the distinct lines and flat areas of color; these qualities are inherent to the process. Kiyochika was working during a time of rapid modernization in Japan, and his work reflects a tension between traditional techniques and contemporary subjects. Woodblock printing was a laborious, skilled craft, tied to a workshop system of production. These prints were commercial products, consumed by a wide audience. Examining this print through the lens of materials and making allows us to appreciate the rich cultural context of the image, and to resist any strict separation of art, design and craft.