Nieuwe zee der kunsten - 10 Possibly 1903

Furuya Kōrin made this print called ‘Nieuwe zee der kunsten - 10’ at an unknown date with woodblock printing. Looking at this image, I’m struck by the layering of colours and lines; it's like the artist is building up a world, one thin line at a time. The colour palette here is muted, almost dreamlike, which emphasizes the material aspects of the work. The lines in the top segment are not solid; the artist leaves room for the ground to show through, creating a textured effect. Down in the blue, the swirls almost float. In some ways, this print reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, who also used delicate lines and subtle colours to create a sense of calm and contemplation. Like Martin, Kōrin seems to be inviting us to slow down and really see, to find beauty in the simplest of forms. Art is an ongoing conversation, and each artist builds upon the ideas and techniques of those who came before.