Turtles Climbing a New Year's Decoration c. 1790 - 1800

Katsukawa Shun’ei made this woodblock print, “Turtles Climbing a New Year’s Decoration,” probably in the early 1800s. Woodblock printing, or *ukiyo-e*, was a complex process involving carving a design into wood, inking it, and then pressing paper onto the block. Note how the artist has used the qualities of line and color to create a sense of depth and texture in the turtles' shells. You can see how the printmaking process allows for the creation of multiple impressions, and how the artist's skill in carving and printing is essential to the final image. This production method was well-suited to Edo-period Japan, where there was a growing middle class eager to consume images of popular culture, like actors and courtesans, as well as auspicious subjects like these turtles. The image of the turtle has symbolic significance, and the printmaking process underscores the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption in Edo-period Japan. The intersection of fine art and craft is evident in this work, challenging traditional distinctions between the two.