Onoe Kikugoro as Omatsuri Sanshichi 1931

Natori Shunsen's print of Onoe Kikugoro as Omatsuri Sanshichi captures a moment, a pose, a feeling through color and the careful application of line. It’s all about that dance between the intended mark and the happy accident. The blue of the kimono is just luscious, a deep, rich field scattered with these almost cartoonish pink flowers. They pop, right? But then you see the subtle gradations in the background, that kind of creamy, hazy yellow, and it’s like the whole thing starts to breathe. Look at the way the black lines define the figure, how they vary in thickness and intensity. There's a sense of control, but also a willingness to let the material speak. Shunsen's work reminds me a little of Utamaro, both of them capturing the essence of a fleeting moment with such precision. But where Utamaro is all elegance, Shunsen has this raw, almost punk energy. It's like he's saying, "Yeah, this is beautiful, but it's also messy and real." And isn't that what art's all about?