Before the Mirror 1932

Hirano Hakuhō created this print, "Before the Mirror," at an unknown date, and it invites us into a world of quiet preparation. The method here is printmaking, where the artist painstakingly carves the image into a block, applies ink, and presses it onto paper. It's a real process! Look closely at the kimono, there's a field of tiny, repeated shapes, each one precise and intentional. Notice how the artist uses color sparingly, letting the red of the kimono and the black of the hair dominate the composition. For me, this print calls to mind artists like Utamaro and Hokusai, who captured the fleeting moments of everyday life with such grace and sensitivity. "Before the Mirror" is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas and inspirations that transcends time and place.