Distant View of Komagatake at Nojiri Station- (Actor Iwai Shijaku I as) Koyoshi Possibly 1852

This print of the actor Iwai Shijaku I as Koyoshi was made by Utagawa Kunisada, though the date is unknown. It is a woodblock print; a technique that demands a collaboration between designer, carver, printer, and publisher, a true division of labor. The flat planes of color, crisp lines, and meticulous patterns are products of this intense, hand-worked production process. In the Ukiyo-e tradition, each color requires a separate block, and therefore a separate stage of labor to execute. Although the image shows the actor in a landscape setting, the print itself also reflects the wider social context of Edo period Japan. The commercial, almost capitalist nature of Ukiyo-e prints, like this one, places them in a unique position between art, craft, and commodity. Examining the materials, processes, and social context provides a deeper understanding, challenging any strict art-craft boundaries.