Praktische schetsen - deel één 1903 - 1912

This is a book cover called 'Practical Sketches - Part One,' created by Ogino Issui. It's difficult to know when this book was made, but the artist had a short life, dying around 1910. Here, we see a palette of earthy greens and stark whites. The linear elements create a sense of rhythm and flow. I can imagine Issui carefully considering the balance between text and image, each informing the other. The hand-drawn quality of the lines gives the piece an intimate, personal feel. It is simple but powerful. It reminds me of the work of other Japanese artists who were exploring new forms of expression, and how they were taking traditional motifs and reinterpreting them in a modern way. You can see how the making of art is an ongoing conversation between artists, across time and space, each inspiring the other to see the world in new ways. I like to think about how Issui's work might have influenced other artists.