Print 1800 - 1865

This print of Ichikawa Ebijūrō I as Ōnakuro was made in Japan by Utagawa Kunisada. It's a woodblock print; a process involving multiple blocks of wood, each carved to represent a different color or element of the image. The material itself, paper made from plant fibers, lends a subtle texture that softens the sharp lines of the figure. The process behind this print involved a collaboration between the artist, who designed the image, the carver, who translated the design onto wood blocks, and the printer, who applied ink and pressure to transfer the image onto paper. This division of labor reflects a highly developed system of production, typical of the Edo period. Woodblock prints weren't considered ‘high art’ in their time, but rather a popular, accessible form of visual culture, consumed by a broad audience. Considering the materials, the labor, and the audience for this print, we can see how it challenges traditional ideas about art and its place in society.