Combing the Hair 1933

Torii Kotondo made this print of a woman combing her hair using woodblock printing techniques. Look at the way the cool blues and greens in the background softly shift into each other. Imagine Kotondo carefully carving out the lines of her hair so each strand falls perfectly straight. I can feel this woman's focused energy as she draws the comb down through her dark hair. She's caught in a moment of private, everyday ritual. What might she be thinking about? Is she preparing for the day ahead, or reflecting on events past? The woman’s kimono drapes softly around her shoulders, the light floral patterns adding a touch of delicacy to the scene. Kotondo was part of the Shin-Hanga movement which revitalized traditional Japanese woodblock printing. His work connects to a long history of artists representing women in intimate settings. He’s drawing from a well of imagery that spans centuries. Artists are always having a dialogue with one another across time, you know, inspiring one another's creativity! Like this woman, artists reflect, interpret, and then keep moving forward.