Cow 

Kanae Yamamoto created this woodcut, Cow, using a dynamic approach. The blocky shapes and textures bring a tactile quality to the scene, evoking a sense of the physical environment. The composition is structured around contrasting forms. The mass of the cow is set against the open expanse of the sea and sky. Yamamoto employs a limited palette, focusing on the interplay between the dark silhouette of the cow and the muted tones of the landscape. The texture, achieved through the wood grain, adds a layer of complexity, disrupting any sense of smooth representation. This work reflects a shift towards abstraction and a focus on the materiality of the medium. Yamamoto’s rejection of traditional pictorial space destabilizes conventional modes of representation, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork’s formal qualities. It acknowledges the artwork as a constructed object. The roughness of the print emphasizes its own making. The tension between representation and abstraction challenges fixed meanings and encourages ongoing interpretation. This foregrounds the artwork as a site of continuous engagement and re-evaluation.