Het is goed om het eerste bad te nemen c. 1822

Totoya Hokkei made this print, ‘Het is goed om het eerste bad te nemen,’ using woodblock printing, a technique central to the aesthetics of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. The process began with a drawing, which was then carefully transferred onto a block of wood, usually cherry. The artist would then carve away the areas that should remain white, leaving a raised surface to hold the ink. Ink was applied to the block, and then paper laid on top, transferring the image. Each color required a separate block, demanding incredible precision. Consider the flat expanses of color, the crispness of the lines, and the layering effect which gives depth to the woman’s patterned kimono. Woodblock prints like this one were produced in multiples, making art accessible to a wider audience, and reflecting a burgeoning culture of consumption. Recognizing the labor and skill involved in its making allows us to fully appreciate the artistic accomplishment and social context of this Ukiyo-e print.