Sōjō Henjō c. 1830s

Utagawa Hiroshige made this woodblock print, Sōjō Henjō, in Japan using multiple blocks of carved wood, ink, and paper. The flat expanses of color and bold outlines are characteristic of the ukiyo-e style. Woodblock printing is itself a fascinating process: each color requires a separate block, meticulously carved to create the desired image. The printer then carefully applies ink to the block and presses it onto the paper. The layering of these colors creates the final image with the figure, landscape, and text. The materiality of the print influences its appearance, from the texture of the paper to the vibrancy of the ink. Consider the labor involved in carving each block, applying the ink, and aligning the paper to create this print. Woodblock prints like these were both commercial products and significant works of art, reflecting a blend of artistic skill, manual work, and popular culture. The combination of the artistry and production process really invites us to think about the place of craft within fine art traditions.