Ide [Jewel River] in Yamashiro Province c. 1844 - 1846

This print, "Ide [Jewel River] in Yamashiro Province," was made by Utagawa Hiroshige using woodblock printing, a complex process of carving, inking, and pressing. The keyblock outlines the design on a wood plank, and then the colours are printed using separate blocks. This labor-intensive process demanded highly skilled artisans. Note how the carved lines articulate textures and patterns, from the woman’s patterned kimono to the delicate foliage along the riverbank. Woodblock prints like this were not originally considered high art but were produced for a growing urban consumer class. They were relatively inexpensive and widely circulated. This print, with its elegant depiction of a fashionable woman in a picturesque landscape, speaks to the commercialization of beauty. The beauty in this artwork reflects the economic and social changes of Edo-period Japan. Appreciating the making of woodblock prints gives us a richer understanding of their cultural significance, blurring the lines between craft, design, and fine art.