Tamamo no Mae en Miura Kuranosuke c. 1827

Yashima Gakutei created this woodblock print, titled "Tamamo no Mae en Miura Kuranosuke," in Japan sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, was a painstaking process, involving a team of artisans. First, the artist would create a design. This was then transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry, which a carver would incise. Finally, a printer applied ink to the block and pressed it onto paper. Each color required a separate block, demanding careful alignment. In this print, we see the dynamic interplay between line and color that characterizes *ukiyo-e*. Notice the intricate patterns on the figures' garments, achieved through precise carving and layering of inks. The flat, graphic style, combined with the narrative subject matter, reflects the popular culture of the Edo period. The print was not just an aesthetic object, but a commodity, made possible by a complex division of labor. Through its materials, making, and social context, this print offers insights into the world of 19th-century Japan, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and commerce.