Hakone 1906

Utagawa Hiroshige, in the mid-19th century, made this print called "Hakone" with woodblocks and colored inks. Woodblock printing isn't exactly fine art, and not exactly industrial either, but something in between. Note how the flat planes of color define the mountain, lake, and sky, building up an image of varied textures with simple means. The grain of the wood is present, and so is the labor of the artisan who cut the block. A different block is needed for each color, with a very skilled printer applying each in turn. Prints like this were made for a booming tourist market. The "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" was a popular series, and Hiroshige was canny in figuring out how to supply it. The price would have been low, thanks to the efficient, division-of-labor process. This beautiful image is also a reminder of how art and commerce have always been intertwined. Appreciating the craft involved allows us to see this connection all the more clearly.