Flat Fish (Hirame) and Rockfish (Mebaru) with Cherry Blossoms, from an untitled series known as Large Fish c. 1840 - 1842

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige’s *Flat Fish (Hirame) and Rockfish (Mebaru) with Cherry Blossoms*. I’m drawn to the texture created by the woodblock printing. What do you see in terms of the materials and process that might tell us more about its creation and context? Curator: I notice the tension between mass production and the individual artistry involved. The *ukiyo-e* prints like these, while designed by Hiroshige, relied on the collaboration of block cutters, printers, and publishers. Consider their labor and the consumption of these images in 19th-century Japan. Editor: So, it’s not just the final image but also the whole production process that gives the artwork its meaning? Curator: Precisely. The means of production and distribution shaped its cultural value and accessibility. We often ignore how the materiality and commodification are central to understanding the work. Editor: That’s a completely different way of thinking about it. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the artwork's journey from conception to consumption really opens it up.