Nude on a Red Chair 1939

Unichi Hiratsuka made this woodblock print, Nude on a Red Chair, using simple lines and bold colours, allowing the grain of the wood to show. I love how artmaking can be like a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist and the materials. You can almost feel the texture of the wood in the print, especially in the yellow background, which has a really physical quality. It’s not about hiding the process; it’s about making it visible. See the way the artist has handled the lines? They’re so economical, like the lines that describe the form of the figure, but they still manage to convey so much. That directness reminds me of Matisse's line drawings, but with a Japanese sensibility. But the colour is what really makes this piece pop. It’s like Hiratsuka is saying, ‘I’m not trying to trick you into thinking this is real, but it can still be beautiful.’ And it is! Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about embracing the beauty of imperfection.