Boy as Hotei, from an untitled series of children as the Seven Gods of Good Fortune c. 1780s

Kitao Shigemasa created this woodblock print of a boy as Hotei in Japan, sometime before 1820. Woodblock printing is a relief process, where the image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. What is so marvelous about this print is the way that it is made. Notice the flat planes of color, and the distinct outlines. These are not accidental, but rather the result of careful carving and printing. Each color requires a separate block, and each block must be perfectly aligned to create the final image. Consider how the artist's hand is present in every stage of the process, from the initial design to the final print. This reflects a deep understanding of the materials, and a respect for the traditions of Japanese printmaking. The result is an image that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and that challenges our assumptions about the relationship between art, craft, and labor.