Fuji from Mizuchubo 1936

Shotei Takahashi made this woodblock print of Fuji from Mizuchubo. It’s all about layering – of colors, of textures, of atmosphere. You can almost feel the cool evening air settling over the landscape. Look closely, and you’ll see how the pink of the dawn sky isn’t just a flat wash. It’s built up from tiny, delicate strokes, like a whisper of color. And the way the blue of the mountain fades into the distance? That's not just perspective, it's like the air itself is becoming visible, turning into a tangible thing. Then, there's the water in the stream, each ripple suggested with such economy of line. Shotei wasn't just representing a scene; he was capturing a feeling, a mood. It reminds me of Hiroshige, another master of Japanese printmaking, but Shotei has a softness all his own, an almost dreamy quality. Art's not just about what you see, it's about how it makes you feel. It's an ongoing conversation, each artist adding their own voice to the mix, exploring the endless possibilities of seeing.