Kuri Ferry Possibly 1932

Hasui Kawase created this print, Kuri Ferry, using woodblocks, a technique with a long and esteemed history. What interests me most here is the dialogue between the built environment and the natural world. The water is built up in layers of blues and greens, with a subtle horizontal grain. The wooden architecture of the houses echoes this in some way, except that these lines are sharply defined and more evenly spaced. The texture almost gives it a musical quality. And then there’s that tree, dominating the composition, softening the grid-like structure of the houses. Look at how the leaves and the ripples in the water dance with light in a similar way. It all feels so beautifully balanced. Reminds me a little of how Bonnard balanced interior and exterior spaces. Of course, it isn't an either/or, is it? It's more of an endless exchange.