Twelve Hours of Spring Pleasures: Hour of the Dragon 1786 - 1865

This print, *Hour of the Dragon* by Utagawa Kunisada, dates from nineteenth-century Japan. It's a *ukiyo-e*, or woodblock print, a process that involves carving an image into a block of wood, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The colors, lines, and textures are all products of this labor-intensive process. The crispness of the lines, the subtle gradations of color, the overall flatness of the image – all owe their existence to the techniques employed. The woman depicted is likely a high-ranking courtesan, as the print alludes to a life of luxury and leisure. Yet her comfort is predicated on the hard work of others; in the small inset scene we see two men carrying a covered palanquin, doing the heavy lifting that allows the elite to travel in comfort. The *ukiyo-e* tradition was deeply embedded in the culture of its time, reflecting the social structures and economic realities of the Edo period. This print reminds us that art is always connected to its making, and to the broader world of work.