Dimensions: 14 5/16 × 9 9/16 in. (36.35 × 24.29 cm) (image)23 × 19 × 1 1/2 in. (58.42 × 48.26 × 3.81 cm) (outer frame)
Copyright: No Copyright - United States
Yamakawa Shuho created 'Twilight', a Japanese woodblock print, sometime between 1898 and 1944. Look at the blues, how they sit with the black and white. Imagine Shuho, carefully layering each color, carving the wood to bring this image into being. I think they're asking what is the space between looking and feeling? There's an intensity in the woman's gaze, and the sharp lines of her kimono. The patterns draw me in, but it's the smooth, unbroken planes of color in her hair and skin that really hold my attention. You can see the echo of Hokusai and Utamaro, but there is something very modern about it, too - a certain graphic sensibility that feels almost contemporary. It's like she is in dialogue with all the artists who came before and after. I love how a painting can be an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time. It's all about ambiguity and uncertainty, so you are free to interpret the work and find your own meaning.
Comments
The title Twilight refers to the time of day, but pictorial details in this print are related to summer. The woman wears a pale blue kimono with an overall fishnet pattern. Blue was a popular color for summer, visually conjuring coolness during Japan’s notoriously hot and humid months. The fishnet pattern, too, contributes to the sense of freshness because of its association with water. The round object in front of the woman is a non-folding fan (uchiwa), a common accoutrement in summertime.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
