Design for the songlet -Dragon Gorges- c. 1930

Takehisa Yumeji made this woodblock print, Design for the songlet -Dragon Gorges-, sometime during his career. There's something so immediate about printmaking, right? You can see the artist's hand in every line, every choice of color. It's like a direct link to their process. Look at the way Yumeji uses color here. It's so flat, so graphic. But within that flatness, there's so much depth. The kimono is just exquisite. All these colours, a riot of pattern, and yet, the figure retains this gorgeous serene poise. Her face is such a delicate series of pale curves, and is offset beautifully against the dark drama of her hair. The bold pattern of her kimono creates a tension with the restraint of the composition. I'm reminded of Matisse, or maybe even some of the earlier ukiyo-e masters. There is a constant conversation happening across art history, right? It is a beautiful thing. And, ultimately, it's not about answers but about questions.