Arashi Rikan in de schemering 1821

This print, titled "Arashi Rikan in de schemering," was made by Toyokawa Yoshikuni using woodblock printing, a complex process demanding high levels of skill. The image begins with a drawing, then each color is carved into a separate block of wood. Ink is then applied and the image transferred to paper, one color at a time. Consider the coordination required to achieve such precise registration! The lines are crisp, the colors flat and vibrant. Woodblock prints were relatively inexpensive and produced in large numbers, a form of popular culture. Actors were common subjects, and prints like this one functioned as publicity. Look at the way the actor's robe drapes, the lantern glows, and the platform's checkered pattern recedes into space. Woodblock printing enabled artists to meet consumer demand, yet it also required exceptional artistry. This work challenges our assumptions about art and craft.