Ichimura Kamezo in the role of Ise no Saburo 1738 - 1758

This print, dating to the early 18th century, depicts the actor Ichimura Kamezo in character. It was made by Torii Kiyomasu I using woodblock printing, a process that was both highly skilled and intensely collaborative. The keyblock cutter would have meticulously carved the artist’s design into a block of wood, usually cherry. This master block was then used to make multiple impressions, with different blocks used for each color. Look closely, and you can see how the evenness of the lines and blocks of color give the print a distinctive flatness. Woodblock prints like this one were commercial objects, made for a mass market. The division of labor involved, from artist to block cutter to printer, reflects the increasingly complex networks of production and consumption in Edo-period Japan. By considering the making, we get a real sense of the social and economic forces at play. This print isn't just an image, it's a testament to the power of craft within a rapidly changing world.