Triptych: Sumō Wrestling Tournament (Kanzin ōsumō torikumi no zu) Possibly 1858

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Kunisada's "Triptych: Sumō Wrestling Tournament." The printwork's scale is quite impressive. What's especially striking is the sheer number of figures depicted. What do you make of it? Curator: The woodblock print reveals much about Edo period entertainment and class structure. The process of carving and printing these images was a collaborative effort, involving publishers, artists, carvers, and printers. Each contributed their labor to produce these consumer objects. Editor: Consumer objects? Curator: Yes, these prints were not considered high art at the time but rather mass-produced commodities reflecting popular taste and documenting the spectacle of sumo. The choice of subject indicates a specific market and consumption pattern. Consider the economics behind commissioning, creating, and distributing such a piece. Editor: That’s a different way to consider the print, thinking about labor and consumption. Thanks!