Cat with Bell 

Shotei Takahashi made this print of a cat with a bell, employing the traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique known as *ukiyo-e*. Observe the subtle texture of the paper, and the way the black ink of the cat interacts with the background's muted tones. The *ukiyo-e* process involves carving a separate block for each color, then carefully layering the impressions to create the final image. The precision required to align these blocks, especially in areas with fine detail like the cat's whiskers or the pattern of its collar, speaks to the skill of both the artist and the printer. Consider, too, the social context of this art form. *Ukiyo-e* prints were popular among the merchant class in Japan, offering affordable access to art. They were products of a highly developed system of workshops, where artists, carvers, printers, and publishers collaborated to bring images like this one into wide circulation. The *ukiyo-e* tradition reminds us that art is not just about individual genius, but also about collective effort and the circulation of images within a society.