Untitled 

This print was made in Japan by Katsushika Hokusai using woodblock printing, a process that demands precision and patience. The flat planes of color and crisp outlines belie the labor involved. Each color you see required a separate block, meticulously carved to define the image and applied in careful registration. Ink, made from pigment mixed with water and rice paste, was brushed onto the block. Paper, likely made from the inner bark of the Kozo plant, was then pressed onto the block to transfer the image. The texture of the paper, its absorbency, and the pressure applied all contribute to the final print. This wasn't just a craft, but a system of production, with publishers, block cutters, printers, and artists all playing their part. Hokusai's genius lies not only in his design, but in his deep understanding of this collaborative process, elevating a commercial medium into an enduring art form.