Moonrise 1971

Ansei Uchima made this print called Moonrise in December 1971. The way the colors softly blend together feels so process-oriented to me, like he's letting the materials speak. I love the textures in this image, especially how the inky black horizon contrasts with the luminous moon. You can almost feel the grain of the paper. That band of turquoise above the horizon is just *chef's kiss*. It's a small detail, but it really makes the whole thing sing. And the way the moon seems to glow, it's like Uchima captured a fleeting moment, making it timeless. It puts me in mind of Hiroshige, another Japanese printmaker who knew how to capture the beauty of nature with a simple, elegant touch. With art, it's never about having the last word, but keeping the conversation going.