The Village Street c. 1935 - 1940

Isami Doi made this woodblock print, "The Village Street," and what I love is how the image is built from such simple contrasts. Imagine the artist carefully carving away at the wood, deciding what to reveal and what to conceal. I like the bold shapes of the figures and the way they almost blend into the night. The raised hand reaches out into the scene like it's greeting the sun. Or is it waving goodbye? I'm curious about the village. I love the little houses peeking out between the trees. I imagine Doi thinking about all the different ways he could render each little detail and the possibilities that arise out of that process. Maybe the patterns of the leaves and flowers reminded him of the prints of other Japanese artists. It’s like he's in conversation with them. You can almost feel the influence and the innovation all at once.