Girl in Shell 1960

Kaoru Kawano made this woodcut, ‘Girl in Shell,’ and it really gets under my skin! The palette is so restricted, mostly black and white and brown, but look how much emotion Kawano wrings from these quiet tones. What I love about woodcuts is the way they emphasize process. The lines are so deliberate, so clear. It's impossible to hide your tracks! Look closely at the shell – each line seems carefully considered, building up a sense of texture and form. There is a beautiful contrast between the dark solidity of the shell and the girl’s pale skin. I love the way the minimal facial features still manage to communicate such a strong feeling of vulnerability. When I look at this piece, I’m reminded of the work of Paula Rego, another artist who explores the darker side of childhood in her prints and paintings. Both artists remind us that art is a conversation across time, where different voices and visions echo and respond to one another.