Matsumoto Koshiro VII as Sukeroku 1920

Yamamura Toyonari made this striking print of Matsumoto Koshiro VII as Sukeroku. I'm immediately drawn to the way Toyonari's use of bold lines and flat planes of color emphasize the stylized nature of Kabuki theatre, reminding me that art is often as much about the process as it is about the final image. The texture feels smooth, almost like it's been pressed rather than painted, which makes sense considering it's a woodblock print. I love the tension between the bright red of the inner robe and the cool blues of the hairpiece, contrasted against the stark white face. The red around the eyes is particularly arresting, it's a small detail, but it amplifies the intensity of his gaze. Thinking about other artists who play with similar ideas, David Hockney comes to mind, especially his portraits with their flattened perspectives and vibrant colors. But in the end, art is a conversation, a constant back-and-forth of ideas, and what matters most is how it speaks to you, here and now.