Tijdelijke brug 1900 - 1940

Yamamoto Shoun made this small woodblock print, of what I think we can all agree is a very temporary bridge, sometime in the early 20th century. What strikes me about it is how it looks almost like a sketch, but in ink – the way the planes of color sort of layer on top of each other, not quite meeting. Look at how the trunk of the tree on the left is built up of these vertical strokes, almost like the action of painting in the round. The image is so still, almost frozen, but the marks themselves are so alive. I guess that is the magic of the print, right? And look at the lone figure on the bridge – a single dab of color against the muted blues and greys. It’s a bit like Morandi in that way, or maybe even a very early Agnes Martin – the kind of art that invites you in to think, and dream, and let your mind wander.