Geisha in Springtime 1890

Ogata Gekko created this woodblock print, Geisha in Springtime, in Japan, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Woodblock printing is an intimate medium, requiring close contact between the artist and the physical material. Gekko’s design would have been transferred to thin paper, glued to a block of wood, then carefully carved to leave the lines in relief. Different blocks were needed for each color; the registration had to be perfect, so the image did not become blurry. The subject matter, too, speaks to a culture of craft. The elaborate kimonos and perfectly coiffed hair point to highly skilled trades. And of course, we must consider the social context. Geishas were not just entertainers but also skilled artists, trained in music, dance, and conversation. The image as a whole encourages us to reconsider what we mean by 'fine art.’ In this case, the material, the process, and the social context all intertwine.