Maisaka 1855

This is “Maisaka,” a woodblock print made by Utagawa Hiroshige in 19th century Japan. It’s a great example of ‘ukiyo-e,’ or pictures of the floating world. To make this image, Hiroshige first created a drawing, which was then transferred to a block of wood, usually cherry. A carver would painstakingly cut away the areas to be printed, leaving a raised surface. Ink was then applied to the block, and paper pressed against it to create the image. Each color required a separate block, demanding precision and teamwork. Consider the paper itself, thin but strong, made from the inner bark of the gampi tree. The ink, likely a combination of lampblack and pigments. Every element connects to a network of labour and craft. Woodblock prints like this were not considered high art, but rather a popular form of expression, affordable and accessible to a wide audience. Yet, they reflect incredible skill. We see not just a picture, but also a complex cultural history of making.