Washing her Hair 1930

Koshiro Onchi, a leading figure in the sōsaku-hanga movement, created this print, ‘Washing her Hair.’ Onchi and his contemporaries sought to move Japanese printmaking away from ukiyo-e traditions, embracing individual artistic expression. As Japan opened to the West, artists grappled with modernism while asserting cultural identity. This print embodies such tensions. The intimate scene of a woman washing her hair is rendered with bold colors and simplified forms reminiscent of Western modern art. Yet, the subject matter evokes traditional Japanese woodblock prints, often depicting women in domestic settings. Here, gender and identity intersect as Onchi captures a moment of private ritual, transforming it through a modern lens. The woman's body is de-emphasized, her face and expression are hidden, so her interiority is left a mystery. Does this image perpetuate traditional representations of women or offer an alternative narrative? Perhaps it's both. It’s an exploration of selfhood and cultural identity.