Kinuta Jewel River in Settsu Province c. 1835 - 1836

Utagawa Hiroshige crafted this woodblock print, "Kinuta Jewel River in Settsu Province," showcasing the art of ukiyo-e. This wasn't merely painting; it was a sophisticated form of printmaking, demanding collaboration between the artist, block carver, printer, and publisher. Consider the labor involved: carving the design into cherry wood blocks, one for each color, and then meticulously layering inks onto paper using a baren, a tool to apply pressure and transfer the image. The precision required was immense, and the process inherently reproductive. Woodblock prints were relatively affordable, enabling a wider audience to access art, and thus shaping popular culture. Hiroshige masterfully exploits the inherent qualities of the medium, using flat planes of color and strong outlines to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The soft gradations of the sky and water, achieved through careful inking and printing, evoke a sense of tranquility. Thinking about the materials and making helps us see that the beauty of this print is inseparable from the labor, skill, and social context that brought it into being.