Fuji from Senbon Beach 1929

Shotei Takahashi made this print, Fuji from Senbon Beach, using woodblocks to lay down flat areas of color in a precise order. I love the way the color shifts in the sky, a band of peach bleeding into blue. It’s amazing how the physical qualities of the medium—the way the ink sits on the paper—can create such a peaceful scene. The texture of the woodblocks gives a slightly grainy feel to the sand. It gives the impression that the tide has just gone out. The artist pays such close attention to the details, from the carefully placed bundles of straw in the boats to the way Mount Fuji rises in the background. I love how the artist uses the form of the mountain to suggest the subtle movement of the water, which seems to echo in the sky. This image reminds me of Hiroshige, with its similar focus on landscape and atmosphere. It's like they're in conversation across time, each adding their own voice to the ongoing exploration of nature and human experience.