from the series Cutout Pictures of Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho harimaze zue) c. 20th century

Editor: This blue-toned woodblock print, "Cutout Pictures of Famous Places in Edo" by Utagawa Hiroshige, presents several scenes in one frame. I'm struck by the variety of textures achieved through the printmaking process. What do you see in this work? Curator: The materiality of this print is crucial. Consider the woodblock—the labor, the skill required to carve it. The choice of pigments, likely affordable and readily available, speaks to the consumption of art in Edo society. How does the printmaking process itself inform your understanding of these "famous places"? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered how the means of production might democratize access to these landscapes. Thanks for that perspective!