Applying Powder 1929

This is a woodblock print by Torii Kotondo, called ‘Applying Powder’. It's a beauty, so subtle and quiet. You know, making a print is not like painting; the artist has to carve into the wood and then apply the color. I imagine Torii Kotondo thinking carefully about each line, each mark, slowly building up the image. The delicate line that describes the woman’s face and the way the colors shift in the background. The texture in that deep indigo, achieved through meticulous carving, suggests a depth and stillness, don't you think? And the white flowers popping from her robe! I love how the artist captured this everyday moment, the woman caught in a private ritual. It reminds me of other artists of his time and also so many artists working now, how we are always looking and learning from each other, and translating it to our own practices. It makes me think about all the possibilities that painting offers, how each mark can speak volumes, how each color can evoke a feeling.