Masturbation and voyeurism 1824

"Masturbation and voyeurism" was made by Katsushika Hokusai, using woodblock printing, a technique known as *ukiyo-e*. Woodblock printing allowed for the production of affordable images that were distributed to a wide public. In this print, the flat planes of color and bold outlines showcase the characteristics of the medium. Notice the intricate details in the women's robes, achieved through careful carving and precise registration of colors. *Ukiyo-e* prints were a product of their time, reflecting the rise of a merchant class and a culture of leisure and consumption. The erotic subject matter invites us to consider the social context in which these images were made and consumed. The process of woodblock printing, requiring collaboration between artists, carvers, and printers, speaks to the social and economic dynamics of artistic production in Edo-period Japan. This artwork blurs the lines between fine art and craft.