Theehuis langs een rivier 1700 - 1750

Nishikawa Sukenobu created this woodblock print, "Theehuis langs een rivier," sometime before his death in 1750. The composition, split into two scenes, initially strikes us with its graphic clarity, achieved through the stark contrast of black lines against the white paper. On the left, we see figures on a pier, set against a stylized river. The right scene, in contrast, depicts an interior scene, possibly a tea house, with women in repose. Sukenobu plays with perspective, flattening the pictorial space, which draws our attention to the surface and the intricate patterns of the clothing and architecture. The linear quality emphasizes the print's structure. The repetition of lines to depict the waves and roof tiles creates a sense of rhythm and order, reflecting the artist's formal approach to design and composition. The structure of the woodblock print, from line to form, invites us to consider how traditional art forms encode cultural values and aesthetics.