Vrouw met aapje: Aap en tijger 1795 - 1800

Here we see 'Woman with Monkey: Monkey and Tiger' an intriguing woodblock print by Tamagawa Shûchô. The composition immediately strikes us with its elegant simplicity. Soft grays and blacks define the forms, and the flatness of the picture plane is characteristic of traditional ukiyo-e prints. Look closely at how Shûchô organizes the visual space. The woman's serene profile and the monkey's active posture create a dynamic contrast, held together by a delicate balance. The flatness of the image and the graphic quality of the lines emphasize the artifice of representation, challenging the viewer to question the nature of what they are seeing. The print invites us to consider not just what is depicted, but how the artist uses the inherent properties of the medium—the grain of the wood, the precise cuts, and the layering of inks—to convey meaning. Shûchô masterfully uses these formal elements to invite us to look beyond the surface and to contemplate the interplay between image, materiality, and cultural significance.