The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu l as a young man c. 1742

This print of the actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu was made by Torii Kiyoshige in eighteenth-century Japan, using woodblock printing. Woodblock printing has a fascinating relationship to labor and class. It’s a relatively accessible technique, yet achieving a print like this requires highly skilled craftsmanship. First, an artist creates a design. This is then painstakingly transferred to a woodblock, which is carved by a specialist artisan. The raised areas of the block are inked, and paper is carefully pressed onto the surface, transferring the image. Multiple blocks are needed for each color, demanding precise alignment. The resulting print has a distinctive character. The texture of the wood grain can sometimes be seen, and the ink sits slightly proud of the paper surface. We can appreciate the intense labor involved, while also recognizing this print as a multiple, made possible by the modes of production. Recognizing this interplay of handcraft and the wider market allows us to fully appreciate its cultural value.