August 1918

Igawa Sengai made this print titled 'August,' and who knows when exactly. It depicts a woman with an elaborate hairdo in profile. The colors are muted—mostly blues and blacks, with a touch of red on her lips. I can just imagine Sengai, carefully layering colors to achieve that smooth surface. Look at the way the light falls on her face. What was he thinking when he decided to put the moon in the background? Was he thinking about capturing a certain mood, or was he trying to evoke a sense of longing? That subtle curve of her neck and shoulder seems to me very considered, each line contributing to the overall feeling of the piece. You know, as artists, we’re all in conversation with each other, riffing off ideas and styles across time. And each mark carries intention. It’s about feeling. It’s about asking questions.