Wine Pot and Cup 1750 - 1835

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai made this print, depicting a wine pot and cup, using woodblock printing techniques. Woodblock printing demands a rigorous approach, carving away the negative space from a block of wood, leaving only the desired image to receive ink. Look closely and you can see how this process deeply affects the image’s aesthetic. Note the sharp outlines, the simplified forms, and the relatively flat color fields. These are all direct consequences of the carving and printing processes. The pattern on the wine pot, for example, isn't painted on, but meticulously cut into the block. This art wasn't created in a vacuum; it existed in a society with established aesthetic values and skilled traditions. Woodblock printing wasn't just a means of reproduction, it was a skilled tradition with its own history. The multiple stages in its production required trained labor, and the prints themselves were a commodity, sold and collected. By understanding the material and making process, we can appreciate the complex social context of this beautiful print.