Lobster and Vegetables 19th century

Around the late 1700s, Kubo Shunman created this print, "Lobster and Vegetables," using woodblock printing techniques. The flat, linear quality of the lobster and vegetables speaks to the inherent qualities of this medium. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, was a complex, multi-stage process. It was not only the artist, but also the block carver and the printer who collaborated in the creation of the final print. Each color required a separate block, meticulously carved and then printed in precise registration. The lines are clean and distinct because of this, resulting in a graphic quality. This division of labor reveals much about the social context in which Shunman worked. *Ukiyo-e* prints were commercial objects, produced for a broad urban audience. Their affordability made them popular, which demonstrates a shift towards mass production and consumption in Japanese society. Appreciating the artistry of this print means recognizing the collaborative labor and industrial processes behind it.