Evening Glow at Ajiro 1939

Ito Shinsui made this picture, Evening Glow at Ajiro, and I can almost see the blocks of wood, and feel the artist's hand, carefully placing each one. It is gentle with water and hills, but also a little sad with the bulky boat looming in the foreground. I love the way the calm ripples of water make the pink glow shine, casting a soft light, making the picture feel dreamy and romantic. The artist's work reminds me of Hiroshige and Hokusai and others in the Japanese tradition but with an emotional twist. It is like he is really feeling the sunset! There is a tenderness to the way the picture is made, as though he is trying to capture a feeling more than a view. I am always moved by the way artists build on each other's work, like having a conversation across generations. I wonder what Ito Shinsui would think of my paintings. I hope he'd see the love I have for color and the messy energy of it all.