Nihonbashi 1906

This print by Utagawa Hiroshige, "Nihonbashi", captures a scene of bustling life with delicate lines and muted colours. I can imagine him, bent over his work, carving each line into the woodblock, a process of layering and printing that demands precision, patience, and a deep connection to the subject. Hiroshige wasn't just depicting a place; he was capturing a feeling, the energy of Edo, now Tokyo, as people go about their daily lives. Look at the way he uses the lines to suggest movement, the curve of a back as someone carries a heavy load, the slight tilt of a head in conversation. There's an incredible empathy in his gaze. I think all artists are in a constant dialogue with one another, across time and cultures, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways and to find new ways to express what it means to be human. Painting is like that, a conversation that never ends.