The Story of Priest Nittō at Emmeiin 1885

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print, depicting the story of Priest Nittō, sometime in the late 19th century. The materiality of woodblock printing profoundly shaped the work's creation and appearance. Yoshitoshi would have begun with a drawing, which was then transferred by artisans onto a series of woodblocks, one for each color. Highly skilled carvers incised the image into the wood, a process demanding precision and patience. Each block was then inked and printed onto paper, one color at a time, gradually building up the final image. Look closely, and you'll see the flat planes of color, the crisp lines, and the subtle textures created by the wood grain. Woodblock printing was, by this time, deeply connected to the economics of mass production. This was the primary way that images could be circulated, playing a vital role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion. It was a commercial art, a collaborative effort between artist, artisans, and publishers, with a specific goal in mind. This print gives us insight into the complex interplay between artistic expression, skilled labor, and broader social forces.