Evening at Hot Spring 1912

Kiyokata Kaburagi made this print, Evening at Hot Spring, and the process seems really crucial to how it feels. Look at how the colors meet. There aren't any hard lines separating them. The paper soaks up the different hues, and they bleed into each other. It's so delicate, especially that light blue of her kimono. Then you notice the darker blue pattern on it – like abstracted waves or birds – and the whole image comes alive. There's a real depth to the image that comes from the way Kaburagi uses the medium itself. It's not just about the image, it's about the paint, the ink, the paper, and how they all interact. I'm reminded a little of Hiroshige, who also embraced the natural world in his prints, but Kaburagi brings a certain intimacy and stillness that's all his own. It's like he's inviting us into this quiet, contemplative moment, and we can bring whatever we want to it.