Picture Book of the Suikoden (The Water Margin) Loyalty (Chūgi Suikoden ehon 忠義水滸伝画本) 1829

This is a page from ‘Picture Book of the Suikoden’, made by Katsushika Hokusai in Japan, using woodblock printing on paper. This was not a unique artwork, but one of many identical impressions that could be made from the carved wood block. The image shows figures from the epic tale of the Suikoden. The strong lines and bold forms are typical of Hokusai’s style, achieved through the skilled carving of the woodblock. This was itself a highly developed craft, demanding great precision. The black ink, when pressed onto the paper, defines the forms of the warriors. Woodblock printing was an efficient means of producing images, part of a wider shift towards mass production and consumption during the Edo period. While Hokusai's artistry is evident, the prints also reflect the labour and skills of the many artisans involved in their production. By understanding this process, we can appreciate the prints not just as art, but as products of a complex social and economic system.