The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a Woman in Black Robe Holding a Straw Hat 1798

Utagawa Toyokuni I made this woodblock print of the actor Segawa Kikunojo III in the Edo period. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, was a complex process: the design was carved into a block, inked, and then printed onto paper. This print, like many from this period, relied on division of labor. An artist designed the image, but specialist carvers and printers brought it to life. The materials themselves are fundamental to the image's appeal. The paper's absorbency allows for delicate gradations of color, and the carved woodblocks create crisp lines and flat planes. Note the meticulous detail of the actor's robe and the straw hat. These elements aren't just representations; they speak to the material culture of the time, and to the labor involved in producing clothing and accessories. *Ukiyo-e* prints like this one were relatively affordable, which democratized art viewing and also promoted the celebrity of Kabuki actors. So, even in this seemingly simple print, we see a confluence of artistic skill, material properties, and the social forces of labor and consumption.