Tugging Boats 1909 - 1910

Kamisaka Sekka made 'Tugging Boats' with what looks like ink and colors on paper, and it’s all about the push and pull of life. I imagine Sekka Sensei, brush in hand, thinking about labor, about how we’re all connected, like these figures and their boats. The simple lines create such depth – you can almost feel the strain in their bodies, the weight of their task. It reminds me a bit of Hokusai, but with a quieter, more intimate feel. That single line, taut and strong, connecting the figures to the unseen boat—it's brilliant. So much tension, so much implied narrative in that one element! It speaks to the unseen forces that pull us all along, the invisible connections that bind us. It’s not just about boats; it’s about the human condition, about effort and perseverance. And the waves rendered in such a simple way. It's a reminder that art is never made in isolation, but always in conversation with what came before.