Sumoworstelaar c. 1790 - 1810

This print of a sumo wrestler was made anonymously, using woodblock printing, a process deeply embedded in Japanese history and culture. The process starts with a drawing, which is then carefully transferred to a block of wood. The artist then carves away the wood around the lines of the drawing, leaving a raised image. This block is then inked and pressed onto paper to create the print. For a multi-colored print like this one, a separate block is needed for each color. Woodblock printing is a labor-intensive process, requiring a high degree of skill and precision. It's a process that privileges craft and repetition, making art accessible and circulating images widely. In this context, the image of the sumo wrestler becomes not just a representation of a sport, but a testament to the value of work, skill, and cultural identity. Woodblock prints allowed popular imagery to be widely circulated, creating shared cultural touchstones. Ultimately, appreciating this print means understanding not just the image it depicts, but also the tradition of making that brings it into being.