Five Possibly 1922

Yoshikawa Kanpo made this print called 'Five,' in the early to mid twentieth century. The flat planes of colour and pattern are so alluring, like a beautiful puzzle box. I am drawn to the way the artist brings together all these decorative elements. The cool gray background, the intricate patterns in her kimono, the pop of red in her lips, and the almost mathematically arranged hair ornaments, it's a feast for the eyes! Look at the curves and swirls in the green sash. They seem to echo the shape of her up-do, which in turn reflects the circular forms of her hair decoration. There’s a real sense of harmony and balance. Thinking about other printmakers, this makes me think a little bit of someone like Elizabeth Catlett, who was also using simplified shapes to make powerful images. What I love about prints, like this one, is the way the artist can make a whole world from flat colour. It's like a conversation, where the art is always asking us to look closer and think deeper.