Acteur met een gans in de hand 1820

This woodblock print, made by Utagawa Kunisada, shows an actor holding a goose. Woodblock prints like this were produced through a painstaking, multi-stage process, and very much a commercial enterprise. The process began with a drawing, which was then transferred to a wood block, usually cherry. The artist would then carve away the areas to be left blank. Ink was applied to the surface of the block, and then paper laid on top and rubbed to transfer the image. Each color required a separate block. Think of these as prototypes for mass production. This particular print is interesting because it shows how such imagery reflected social dynamics of the time. The actor depicted was part of a highly stratified celebrity culture, and prints like this allowed fans to connect with their idols. The goose adds another layer, as hunting was popular amongst upper classes. This print is a reminder that even seemingly simple images are made from social and cultural conditions.