Endō Musha Morito Approaching Kesa’s Bedroom 1883

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi made this woodblock print, "Endō Musha Morito Approaching Kesa’s Bedroom," using a technique refined over centuries in Japan. This wasn't just a matter of artistic skill. Highly specialized artisans were involved, each responsible for carving the woodblocks, inking them, and carefully printing the image onto paper. Notice the flat planes of color, the crispness of line, and the way the image is built up through successive layers of ink. These are all hallmarks of the process. Consider the labor involved in creating this print: from the initial design to the final product, many hands contributed to its making. This collaborative aspect challenges the traditional idea of the artist as a solitary genius. Woodblock printing was a commercial enterprise. Prints like this were produced for a mass market, reflecting popular taste and social trends. Appreciating the materials, the making, and the context helps us to move beyond simple aesthetic appreciation, and towards a more complete understanding of the work.