Rivierlandschap waarin huis met waterrad 1900 - 1910

This river landscape with a house and water wheel was dreamt up by Ogata Gekko sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It's a woodblock print washed in pale greys, almost like a faded memory. I can imagine Gekko hunched over the block, carefully carving away at the wood, letting the image emerge slowly, intuitively. Look at how he's rendered the thatched roof—short, quick strokes that capture the rough texture, but also create a sense of movement, as if the wind is rustling through the eaves. The whole piece feels understated, even a little melancholy, but those dark strokes of ink around the roof's edge give it definition and weight. Think of other painters of the time, each with their own way of seeing and interpreting the world—they're all in conversation, bouncing ideas off each other, experimenting with materials and techniques. It's a reminder that painting is never a solitary act; it's an ongoing exchange across time.