The actor Fujimura Handayu II as Nowake no Mae in the play "Tategami Teika Kazura," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1719 1719

In 1719, Okumura Toshinobu made this woodblock print of actor Fujimura Handayu II. Woodblock prints like this one use humble materials to capture a transient moment on stage. The image is made by carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink, and pressing it onto paper. Consider the labor involved: from the playwright to the actor, to the carver and printer. Every line, color, and detail required careful planning and execution, and each impression taken from the block would be subtly different. The resulting image is strikingly graphic, yet also surprisingly subtle. The flat planes of color are carefully registered, one to another, with crisp outlines delineating the figure's form, and with a refined texture on closer inspection. The print's purpose was to commemorate a specific performance and actor. It's also a piece of ephemeral popular culture, made accessible through the printmaking process. This artwork challenges us to reconsider the artistic and social value of pieces like this, as it elevates the everyday into something worthy of aesthetic appreciation.