Mt. Unzen 1936

Curator: We’re standing before "Mt. Unzen," a striking woodblock print created in 1936 by Unichi Hiratsuka. Editor: Ah, there’s something about it that’s immediately soothing. It’s minimalist, almost elemental in its shapes and colours. And the way those horizontal water ripples catch the light--truly sublime. Curator: Indeed. The ukiyo-e influence is very apparent. Look at the simplified forms—the almost block-like representation of the houses against the mountain range. There’s a very deliberate organization here. The composition directs the eye in layers: water, then shore, up to the mountains, and finally the sky. Editor: It’s clever, how Hiratsuka plays with the horizon line. The line cuts across, yet each horizontal division—water, land, sky—presents us with a distinct emotional texture. Like memories of distinct days along the same coast. Curator: You’ve intuited one of the most compelling qualities of this print, and of ukiyo-e generally—how they distill lived experience into essential, elegant forms. The use of woodblock printing enhances this effect, creating a tactile texture within a serene image. Notice how the application of colours contributes to a unique depth—even within such a simplified style. Editor: Almost like the image becomes about more than just looking at the view but feeling its resonance, its place in time and memory. Curator: Precisely. It engages not merely our sight, but our understanding of how form shapes our world. A compelling harmony between idea and execution, if you will. Editor: Yes, a very successful meditation on space. I wonder how that lone boat floating within those cool waters interprets its place within the whole landscape…It almost looks trapped between two conflicting emotions: the warm coast, the blue ocean…It seems both exposed and shielded, maybe representing the fleeting present as we view it! Curator: A most stimulating interpretation. I hadn't considered the boat as a metaphor... Editor: Thanks. Well, for me, the experience shifted, and a certain quiet reflection bloomed.