Verzameling moderne snelle tekeningen - Zomer 1916 - 1917

This book cover, Verzameling moderne snelle tekeningen - Zomer, was made by Ishii Hakutei at an unknown date. The simple color palette, the grey-green against that warm, pinky-brown, and the directness of the marks, feels both Japanese and, strangely, modern, even Western. Looking at how Hakutei rendered the needles on the pine tree, each is made with just a few strokes. You can almost see the artist's hand moving across the page. The quick, almost gestural marks create a sense of rhythm and movement, capturing the feeling of summer. The tan paper peeks through the strokes, creating a sense of transparency and lightness. This is so simple and direct, a bit like some of the paintings of Agnes Martin or maybe even Ellsworth Kelly. There's a beautiful sense of reduction here, getting to the essence of form and feeling with the fewest possible marks. It reminds us that art is not about showing off skill, but about seeing and feeling and expressing something essential about the world.