Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo c. 1834 - 1837

This print of Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo was made by Hokumyō in the 1830s. The process is key to understanding this image, as it is a woodblock print. The image has been carved in relief on a block of wood, then inked and transferred to paper. This is a labor-intensive process, requiring a high degree of skill. The print shows a bustling waterside scene with merchants unloading their goods, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance. But it is the very act of printing that gives the scene its special significance. Woodblock prints were a relatively inexpensive medium, allowing for mass production and distribution of images. This made art accessible to a wider audience and also facilitated the spread of information and ideas. In this way, the print embodies a tension between commerce and art, mass production, and individual expression. It suggests a world where art and everyday life are not so far apart.