Yellow (Ki), from the series "Five Colors (Goshiki no uchi)" c. 1820

This print, "Yellow," or "Ki," by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, was made in Japan in the early 19th century, and is part of a series titled "Five Colors". It's a woodblock print, meaning that the image was carved into a block of wood, inked, and then transferred to paper. Look closely, and you can see the characteristic lines and textures created by this process. The choice of colors—subtle greens, reds, and yellows—reflect the natural dyes available at the time, and also the aesthetic sensibilities of the Edo period. Woodblock printing demanded skilled labor, from the artist who designed the image, to the carvers who translated it into wood, to the printers who carefully applied the ink and paper. This collaborative process, typical of many forms of craft production, underscores the social dimensions of artmaking. The print was made for popular consumption, and so in a sense collapses the distinction between high art and everyday life.