Woman in Blue and Green Kimono c. 19th century

Editor: This is Utagawa Yoshikazu’s "Woman in Blue and Green Kimono." The detail in her garment is incredible. What can you tell me about the materials and the making of this print? Curator: Well, the woodblock printmaking process itself is central here. Consider the labor: carving the blocks, layering the inks, the cheap paper which democratized image consumption. It's mass production disguised as art. How does this impact our understanding of high art versus craft? Editor: So, the social context and production matter just as much as the final image itself? Curator: Precisely. The kimono, a symbol of status, becomes a commodity. Thinking about that shift changes how we understand the artwork. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!