Early Summer Bath Possibly 1922

This woodblock print by Ito Shinsui, called Early Summer Bath, is all about soft blues and whites, a real exercise in subtlety. I imagine the artist layering color upon color, each impression building this quiet scene. It’s like Shinsui is inviting us into a private moment, isn't it? I wonder what he was thinking about as he carved the block, trying to capture the feeling of warmth on skin, or the cool air after a bath. The almost translucent quality of the figure reminds me of Degas' pastels, where the body is suggested rather than defined. What does it mean to represent the fleeting nature of beauty? Painters are always in conversation, aren't they? Shinsui, Degas, and so many others, responding to each other across time. Each mark, each choice of color is a continuation of this dialogue. We embrace the ambiguity, celebrate the many ways of seeing.