Lezende vrouw voor een venster c. 1900 - 1925

Shodo Yukawa made this print, Lezende vrouw voor een venster, using what looks like woodblock and ink. It's so controlled, so precise. It really speaks to the time-consuming process of artmaking. I’m drawn to the limited palette. The colors are muted and soft, almost like they've been filtered through a dream. I particularly love the way the purple of her skirt contrasts with the pale blues and creams of her top. It’s a really careful balance of light and dark, isn't it? Look closely, and you'll notice the flat planes and graphic quality of the linework, like the parallel lines that suggest the wall behind her. I think that’s what I like about the print; a stillness, a quietness. This reminds me of the prints of Emil Nolde, where he used similar techniques, yet to create an expressionistic drama. These echoes across time and cultures show how artists build on each other's ideas, creating something new, while still referencing the past. Isn’t that what art is all about, really?