Autumn Moonlight of Matsukaze c. 1767

Suzuki Harunobu created "Autumn Moonlight of Matsukaze" in eighteenth-century Japan using woodblock printing techniques. This wasn't just a matter of carving and inking a single block. Instead, separate blocks were used for each color, requiring careful registration to achieve the final image. Consider the materiality of the print. Ink is gently pressed into the fibers of the paper, resulting in a slightly raised surface. The subtle gradations of color create depth and atmosphere, evoking the scene's mood. Harunobu's prints, known as "brocade pictures," marked a high point in the development of color printing, thanks to the coordinated labor of the artist, carvers, and printers. Woodblock printing was a commercial enterprise, making art accessible to a wide audience. Yet, the intense labor and skill involved often go unacknowledged. So, next time you encounter a print, remember the layers of skill and craft that went into its creation, blurring the lines between art, design, and industry.