Okoso Hood 1950

Ito Shinsui made Okoso Hood, a woodblock print, sometime in the 20th century, and you know, the way he’s handled the layers of colour and the lines, it's like he’s thinking about printmaking as a delicate, almost painterly process. Look at how the snowflakes speckle the woman’s hood and umbrella, creating a texture that feels both soft and a bit gritty. The purple and blue hues give everything a cool, serene vibe. But then there’s the pop of red in the umbrella handle – a small detail, yet it pulls you in. Think about how Shinsui uses lines, not just to define shapes, but to suggest movement and emotion. I’m reminded of Utamaro’s prints, but with a modern twist. It's like Shinsui is having a conversation with the past, but also doing something totally new. It's all about how you can keep talking through images.