Dancer with Hobby Horse and Two Musicians 1798

This print, Dancer with Hobby Horse and Two Musicians, was made by Kubo Shunman in Japan, using woodblock printing. It is a prime example of *ukiyo-e*, or “pictures of the floating world”. The process begins with a drawing, which is then adhered to a block of wood, usually cherry. The block is then painstakingly carved, following the lines of the drawing. Different blocks are used for each color, and the final print is built up through successive applications. The end result has a characteristic flatness and graphic punch. Woodblock printing in Japan involved the labor of artists, block cutters and printers, and a sophisticated division of labor. It was also deeply entwined with the culture of its time, and prints like this one were relatively affordable, making them accessible to a broad public. Thinking about production, materials, and their circulation helps us appreciate the role of prints in society.