Hoofdstuk 4 1849 - 1853

Utagawa Kunisada made this woodblock print, titled Hoofdstuk 4, using a process that was both meticulous and highly collaborative. The key to understanding ukiyo-e prints like this one is to appreciate the division of labor involved. Kunisada would have created the initial design, but then skilled woodcarvers and printers took over. Each color you see here required a separate block, carefully carved and aligned to create the final image. Consider the labor and materials that went into this print; from the sourcing of wood, the carving of blocks, the mixing of pigments, and the layering of impressions on paper, all contributing to its cultural significance as a reflection of urban life and the theatrical world in 19th-century Japan. The crisp lines and vibrant colors speak to the high level of skill involved, blurring the line between art and craft. Appreciating the making, and the context, reveals layers of meaning beyond the image itself.