Monkey Swinging from a Bamboo Branch, Observing a Fly 

Ohara Koson made this print of a monkey and a fly using woodblocks, likely sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Woodblock printing is a labor-intensive process. Each color needs a separate block, carved by hand, and then printed in precise registration. Koson likely worked with skilled block cutters and printers to achieve the subtle gradations of tone and crisp lines we see here. The choice of this medium – one linking Koson to a lineage of Japanese printmaking – inflects the image with a sense of tradition. The print is not just a picture, but the result of collaborative making, where craft and design meet. The natural subject contrasts with the industrial mode of production, reminding us that even seemingly simple images carry complex histories of labor and skill. The print prompts us to consider the relationship between art, craft, and the wider world of work.