White Heron 1909 - 1910

Kamisaka Sekka made this print, White Heron, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I love how Sekka simplifies the world into shapes and blocks of color. It's like he's sharing a secret with us about how to see. Look at the texture, not just in the water, but in the black ink of the bush and the flat plane of the Heron. The reeds in the background have a dry brush effect and this is contrasted with the pools of flat color that describe the body of water. It reminds me of Guston's late work, but more serene, less angsty. In both, there's this feeling of distilling form to its essence. It's a reminder that art is not just about what you see, but how you see.