Checked Cloth - (Fruit in Basket) 1927

This is 'Checked Cloth - (Fruit in Basket),' made by Yasuo Kuniyoshi, though we're unsure exactly when. Look at the scratchy marks he’s made with the charcoal or graphite, searching for the right form, like feeling around in the dark. The contrast between the dense, dark shadows and the stark white of the paper gives the image a real graphic punch. Notice how the texture of the checked cloth is built up with layers of hatching, creating a sort of optical vibration. It's not about perfect representation; it's about the energy of the hand, the physicality of the medium. The bananas, especially, look like they're about to slide right out of that basket. Kuniyoshi’s got this playful way of handling perspective, tilting the table towards us. It reminds me of Cezanne's wonky tabletops, or maybe even some of Marsden Hartley's still lifes. It's like they're all in on this secret conversation about how to see the world, one brushstroke at a time.