Gorō Uprooting the Bamboo Shoot (Takenuki Gorō) c. mid to early to mid 18th century

Editor: This is Okumura Masanobu's "Gorō Uprooting the Bamboo Shoot," a Japanese woodblock print. It's amazing how the artist captured Gorō's brute strength. What do you notice about the print’s materiality? Curator: The printmaking process itself is central here. Woodblock printing allowed for mass production, democratizing images and impacting consumption. How does the depiction of labor, Gorō’s physical exertion, relate to the labor involved in creating this print? Editor: That's a fascinating connection. I hadn't considered the parallel between Gorō's labor and the artisan's. Curator: Consider the availability of the materials, the paper, the inks, and the wood. These are indicators of broader social conditions. Editor: I see now, analyzing the materials helps reveal deeper cultural and economic contexts. Thanks for broadening my view!