The Tokugawa Princess Yōhime 1887

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's woodblock print, *The Tokugawa Princess Yōhime,* uses traditional materials with extraordinary skill. The print, made from carved wooden blocks, highlights the relationship between labor, artistry, and mass production. Japanese woodblock prints, or Ukiyo-e, emerged as a product of the Edo period, catering to a growing urban middle class. This art form, while seemingly simple, required a collaboration between the artist, the block carver, and the printer, each bringing their specialized skills to the table. The flat planes of color, the expressive lines defining the figures, and the overall composition speak to a meticulous carving and printing process, one that demanded precision and patience. Each print required the creation of multiple blocks, one for each color, and the careful layering of ink to achieve the final image. Woodblock prints became accessible works of art that captured the spirit and aesthetics of their time. Yoshitoshi’s artistry elevates this commercial medium, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.