Konotegashiwa (“A Two-Sided Leaf,” printed in Edo, 1836)

The process of block printing or any early printing in Japan was a unique and personal experience. The printer would first rub it against his hair. This is because men in 19th-century Japan dressed their hair with magnolia oil. Rubbing the baren against their hair was a simple way for a Japanese printer of the period to transfer just the right amount of magnolia oil onto a composite pad, allowing it to glide smoothly over the paper and produce the desired effect. This was just one of many insights into the art of early modern Japanese woodblock printed books. Colors and illustration were an important part of Asian culture at the time when printing came about and was evolving. And they would just create books of illustrations and watercolors. 

This is important to the history of graphic design because the process of making designs is so important and separates people as artists and different cultures. The fact they used their hair In the process can help me as a viewer of the art to tell this is from Asia and Asian cultures. Having unique processes can be part of their culture and the sexuality of someone can play a huge part in the culture and the processes.  I also find this piece important because it shows that they were printing illustrations and not so much words and letters at the time because they liked to tell through illustration which is important to visual design today and how imagery and illustrations work in the modern world to depict certain stories and messages.