Wasps and Praying Mantis 

Ohara Koson made 'Wasps and Praying Mantis’ using woodblock printing, a process known as *ukiyo-e*, common in Japan. Unlike painting, each color here required a separately carved block. The subtlety of the work lies in the layering of these blocks, building up the image bit by bit. Note how this layering achieves the textures of the wasp and the praying mantis; also how the background color seems to glow. The success of this print hinges on the alignment of colors and the skill of the printer to regulate color saturation and prevent smudging or blurring. Woodblock prints were a popular, commercial art form in Japan during the Edo and Meiji periods. Although it was not an original artwork like paintings, woodblock prints were still highly appreciated for the skills and artistry involved in their production. ‘Wasps and Praying Mantis’ shows how this commercial art form could achieve a unique artistic quality through the layering of colors and the skill of the printer.