The Promenade 1742 - 1815

Torii Kiyonaga made this woodblock print, The Promenade, in Japan sometime in the late 18th century. The materials of the print itself are modest: paper, ink, wood. But consider the labor required to produce the image. Kiyonaga would have designed the image, and then skilled carvers would have translated the design into a series of wooden blocks, one for each color. Printers would then apply the inks and carefully align the blocks to create the final impression. The figures in the image are adorned in beautifully patterned kimonos, made of silk or cotton, each dyed and woven with elaborate designs. The production of these textiles would have been labor intensive, involving skilled weavers, dyers, and patternmakers. Looking at this print we should think about the collaborative nature of production, and the division of labor inherent in both the printmaking process, and the wider world of fashion and consumption that it depicts. The value is a combination of artistry, design, and making; all coming together.