Plum Blossoms at Night 1934

Torii Kotondo made this print, 'Plum Blossoms at Night', at some point during his lifetime, with ink and colour on paper. Imagine the artist, methodically carving blocks and layering colours to bring this scene to life. There’s something about the cool greens and blues against the stark black background that feels very deliberate. What was he thinking as he decided on those colours? I imagine Torii was interested in how to show off the colour contrasts between the woman’s face and the wintery backdrop. The surface seems smooth, but I bet if you got up close, you could see the textures from the woodblock printing process. Look at the woman’s profile – it's so precise, so clean. That single line defines her expression, her gaze. There's a stillness in the image, but also a quiet intensity, like a whispered secret. It reminds me of other artists, who are interested in the same things—clarity, precision, a sense of atmosphere. Artists are always in conversation, right? This piece feels like a contribution to that ongoing dialogue. It celebrates the beauty of the everyday, inviting us to pause and notice the magic in the ordinary.