Distant View of the Elephant Head Mountain in Sanuki Province Possibly 1855 - 1859

This is Distant View of the Elephant Head Mountain in Sanuki Province, made by Utagawa Hiroshige, using woodblock printmaking. The image is made through a laborious, multi-layered process. First, the key lines are carved into a block of wood, and printed in black ink, which requires immense skill. Color is then added using a separate block for each shade. Look closely, and you can appreciate the texture of the paper, the subtle gradations of tone, and the linear quality of the carving, all of which contribute to the overall aesthetic effect. The process is all about precision, and the capacity to repeat and register color, perfectly. Woodblock prints like this one were commercial products, sold to a wide audience. They were relatively inexpensive, but no less artful for that reason. The work involved in producing such an image speaks to the realities of labor and consumption in 19th century Japan, where both artistic skill and efficient production were highly valued. Hiroshige's image challenges traditional notions about art, craft, and commerce.