Kersenbloesem `s avonds in het Maruyama park 1925

Yoshikawa Kanpo made this print of cherry blossoms at night in Maruyama Park, and it’s a trip. Can you imagine him there with his carving tools, trying to capture the scene? The blossoms are huge and puffy, like pink clouds against the night. They’re supported by this crazy scaffolding, which makes me think of a stage set. And then you've got these little flames lighting up the base of the tree, with these silhouettes of people walking around. It's like a dream, but also super real, like I could step right into the scene. Kanpo’s got that Japanese print thing going on, you know, where everything's really flat but also has depth. I mean, he really makes you feel the weight of the night, but also the lightness of the blossoms. I feel like he’s in conversation with Hokusai, but doing his own thing. Artists are always riffing off each other like that. It’s an ongoing conversation through art, and who knows where it will lead us next?