The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kajiwara Heiji (?) in the Play Hiragana Seisuiki (?), Performed at the Morita Theater (?) in the Third Month, 1776 (?) c. 1776

This woodblock print, made in 1776 by Katsukawa Shunko, features the actor Ichikawa Danjuro V. It’s a great example of ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” a genre that flourished in Japan’s Edo period. The process begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a wood block, usually cherry. The artist cuts away the wood to leave the lines in relief. Each color requires a separate block. Paper is then laid on the inked blocks and rubbed to transfer the image. The whole process demands precision, patience, and a team of skilled artisans. Consider the texture and weight of the paper itself, and the way the ink sits on its surface. Ukiyo-e prints were commercial products, affordable to a wide audience. They captured the ephemeral world of kabuki theater, and the fashionable life of the city. Far from "fine art," they were integrated into the cycle of production and consumption, like posters or magazines today. And that’s precisely where their importance lies.