Roll of Cloth for an Obi and Tortoise-shell Hair Ornaments (“Presents for One’s Beloved”), from the Butterfly Series, from Spring Rain Surimono Album (Harusame surimono-jō, vol. 3) 1800 - 1820

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai created this print of a rolled cloth, a box of hair ornaments, and a section of patterned fabric, using woodblock printing techniques. As with all prints, this one began with a block of wood, into which the design was carefully carved. The image displays a range of textures, from the smooth ornaments to the woven textiles, and Shinsai has skillfully captured these using only line and color. This refined aesthetic was extremely popular in Japan, and prints like these were produced on an industrial scale, for mass consumption. Woodblock prints like these were both luxury commodities and widely accessible, and this informs how we understand them today. The incredible amount of hand-work involved in their production contrasts with their availability, highlighting tensions of labor, class, and consumption. Appreciating the material nature of this print, and the context of its making, complicates traditional distinctions between craft and fine art.