De vijfde maand 1901 - 1903

This print was made by Migita Toshihide, but the date of its making is unknown. Imagine Toshihide, with his chisels and blocks of wood, carving away at the image bit by bit, testing and re-testing his colours. He’s got a muted palette of purples, greens, and blues, and he's playing with the faintest touch of yellow light. There is a ghostly figure in the background… Maybe it’s a memory? She’s holding a fan, so maybe she’s a performer? I feel for the artist here, and wonder about the push and pull he must have felt between representation and expression. The details of her kimono are exquisite; you can really see the hours of work he put into the fabric. The artist is in conversation with other printmakers, and also painters. Toshihide’s work shows us how we can share and exchange ideas across time. It feels like an invitation to join his conversation.