Mirror 1930

Koshiro Onchi made this print called 'Mirror' and though we don't know exactly when, it probably involved a woodblock and some paper. I imagine him, thinking about light and shadow, how we see ourselves, and what we hide. I’m really drawn to how Onchi uses these simple blocks of color. The darks are so strong. Check out the woman's hair – that solid black shape really anchors the whole image. Then there’s that sort of empty space next to her, like a door slightly ajar, painted a smooth cream. It makes you wonder what’s on the other side. It's like he’s inviting us to peek behind the curtain, to see not just the surface but something more intimate. You can sense this guy, Onchi, was looking hard at the world around him, but also at what's inside. I love how artists have these conversations across time, looking, responding, and adding their own weird, beautiful voices to the mix.