Iwai Hanshirō IV as the pilgrim Otoma, daughter of Ohina from Inamuragasaki in Kamakura 1795

This woodblock print, made by Tōshūsai Sharaku, depicts the actor Iwai Hanshirō IV playing the role of a pilgrim. The process of making such a print was highly collaborative. The artist would design the image, and then specialized carvers would translate that design into a series of woodblocks, one for each color. Printers, often working in workshops, would then apply ink to these blocks and carefully layer them onto paper, bringing the image to life. Notice the precise lines and the subtle gradations of color. These effects testify to the skill of the artisans involved. Woodblock printing, while capable of producing multiples, was also a labor-intensive process, and the quality of the final print depended on the expertise of each individual involved. The commercial success of these prints also relied on an elaborate system of publishers and distributors, reflecting the growing urbanization and consumer culture of the Edo period. By focusing on the making, we can see how the circulation of images like this one was integral to the social and economic life of the time.