The actor Segawa Tomisaburo II as Prince Korehito in the guise of the maid Wakakusa of the Otomo family 1794

This print by Tōshūsai Sharaku, shows the actor Segawa Tomisaburo II, and was made using woodblock printing, a quintessential technique in Japanese art. Consider the process of making the artwork. Ukiyo-e prints like this one demanded extensive division of labor. The artist designed the image, but specialist carvers and printers were responsible for bringing it into being. Multiple blocks of wood were carefully carved, inked, and then pressed onto paper to create the final image. The lines, so essential to the print’s aesthetic, are not simply drawn, but painstakingly incised. Look at the details – the actor's robe, the patterns, and the subtle gradations of color. All of these aspects required collaboration and skill. The popularity of ukiyo-e prints was tied to the rise of a merchant class with money to spend on popular culture, so understanding the means of production of these images gives us insight into the social and economic context in which they were made. This piece challenges any strict division between high art and craft.