Mizutani Yaeko as Tsubaki-hime in La Traviata 1931

This is Natori Shunsen's woodblock print of Mizutani Yaeko, probably made in the first half of the 20th century. Look at the mauve background, with its uneven, grainy texture – it's got that handmade feel. I imagine Shunsen carefully inking the block, pressing it just so to get that perfect imperfection. I wonder, what was it like for Shunsen to create this? You can see how the red and blue in the kimono clash yet complement each other, how the sharp lines define the subject. The woman seems lost in thought, gazing at the small toy she holds. It is the very picture of quiet contemplation. But there's also a tension, a vibration, in the lines and colors. It reminds me of other artists who captured these scenes, these fleeting moments of life. I feel like artists are always in conversation across time, borrowing, stealing, riffing off each other's ideas. And that's what makes art so alive, so interesting. There is always more than one way to see a thing.