Newly Imported Great Elephant (Shinto hakurai no daizō) 1863

This print by Ichiryūsai Yoshitoyo depicts a newly imported elephant, made using the technique of woodblock printing. The materials are simple: wood, paper, ink, yet their combination in the hands of a skilled artisan yields incredible results. The key here is the layering of colors, each applied with a separate block. The elephant's imposing form is rendered through subtle gradations, giving it volume and weight. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the wood grain subtly present, a reminder of the handmade process. These prints were commercial products, made for a wide audience, capitalizing on the novelty of Western influence. The presence of foreigners in the image underscores this theme. The print becomes a record of a specific moment in time, where traditional craft meets a rapidly changing world. It blurs the boundaries between art, documentation, and commodity.