Nomi no Sukune Wrestling with Taima no Kehaya 1885

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi made this print of Nomi no Sukune Wrestling with Taima no Kehaya using woodblock printing, a process deeply rooted in Japanese history and labor. Look closely and you'll notice the flat planes of color, sharp lines, and intricate details, all achieved through carving separate blocks for each color and then carefully layering them on paper. This wasn't a solo endeavor; it involved the artist, carvers, and printers, each contributing their skills to the final product. Woodblock printing democratized art production. This process, while capable of mass production, still required skilled hands, a testament to the value placed on craft within a rapidly modernizing society. The use of wood, ink, and paper, all derived from nature, further connects the artwork to the environment and the traditional practices of Japanese art. This print invites us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the changing social landscape of 19th-century Japan.