Birds of the Seasons - Summer 1982

Toshi Yoshida made 'Birds of the Seasons - Summer' using woodblock print. Imagine Yoshida, the printmaker, patiently carving away at the woodblock, bit by bit, revealing the tree, the birds, the flowers. The textures in this print are something else, right? You can almost feel the smooth bark and soft feathers! Yoshida plays with the surface, the flat and graphic quality of the Japanese tradition, contrasting with the roundness of natural forms. Look at how the pinks of the flowers pop against the cool grey and blue of the birds. Those birds, all perched and poised, seem ready to take flight, and you can sense Yoshida observing them. It reminds me of the American painter, Elizabeth Murray. Yoshida's print is an exchange of ideas across time. His summer scene is a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious, it can be playful, joyous, and full of life!