Fuji vanaf het dorp Narusawa 1936

This print, Fuji vanaf het dorp Narusawa, was made by Hasui Kawase, and I'm struck by how much it shows us about seeing. It has this incredible softness that comes from the process of woodblock printing. Look at how the layers of color create depth, especially around the mountain – it’s a masterclass in making something feel both present and dreamlike. The marks feel so natural and considered, and really communicate the quiet of the scene, inviting you into a space of reflection. The texture in the thatched roof of the building is amazing. The way the colors blend together gives you a sense of the physical process, of the artist making decisions as they went. It reminds me a little of some of the landscape work of Agnes Martin. These are artists working in very different times and places, but there is a shared language about space, color and feeling. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is about an ongoing conversation, embracing openness rather than closure.