Russians Reading and Writing 1861

Utagawa Yoshikazu created this woodblock print depicting Russians reading and writing in Japan in the mid-19th century. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, is a painstaking process where each color requires a separate block, carved and then carefully registered on paper. Yoshikazu's approach is fascinating because it portrays foreigners, likely merchants, engaged in the very activities that sustained *ukiyo-e* production: reading and writing. The clean lines and flat planes of color show the distinct qualities of woodblock printing, a technique deeply embedded in the commercial and cultural life of the Edo period. The materiality of the print, from the paper to the pigments, speaks to Japan's sophisticated craft traditions and the growing global trade networks of the time. By focusing on the processes and social context, we can appreciate how this print bridges different worlds, connecting the local craft of woodblock printing with the broader themes of international exchange and the circulation of knowledge. It challenges our understanding of art by highlighting the labor, skill, and materials involved in its creation.