Augustus 1906 Possibly 1906 - 1928

Mitsutani Kunishiro made this cover for "The Lady's Graphic" in August 1906, and what strikes me is the flatness. The colors are laid down in blocks, greens, whites, and reds, so each plane feels equally important. Look at how the petals of the flowers are made with simple, almost child-like marks. The slight variations in tone create a sense of depth, like the ghost of a shadow. There is the barest hint of the hand in this; it is a print after all. This reductive approach makes me think of late 19th-century French posters, like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who also embraced flat planes of color and bold outlines. Both artists share a similar vision of art as a means of capturing the essence of their subjects. It's an ongoing conversation, right? Each artist adds their voice to the mix, creating a rich tapestry of ideas and approaches.