Ontwerpen van Keika 1905

This cover design, “Ontwerpen van Keika,” by Hasagawa Keika, shows an intuitive response to image-making. The repeated flowers and branches make me think of a contemporary screen print, though this method of production would be unrecognisable to the artist! There’s a quality in the mark-making of both the black text and the botanical illustrations that feels rooted in the physical act of creation. The muted colors, especially the soft green backdrop, enhance the organic, almost aged feel. Imagine the artist using a brush, the delicacy required to make the fine lines of the branches. I can almost feel the pull and release of the artist’s hand. What’s interesting is how the layering creates depth without overwhelming the eye, a balance that many contemporary artists like myself strive for. It reminds me of some of the work of Etel Adnan – a conversation between color, text, and the quiet unfolding of form. Art, after all, is a dialogue, a back-and-forth across time.