Schepen bij nacht 1890 - 1900

This woodblock print, "Ships at Night," was created by Tsukioka Kôgyo, sometime before his death in 1927, and is held at the Rijksmuseum. The image immerses us in a nocturne dominated by muted tones and stark contrasts. The composition, defined by vertical masts and the angular hulls of the ships, evokes a sense of stillness, while the water below suggests movement. The tension between the static and dynamic is further complicated by the stark tonal contrasts. Kôgyo uses a semiotic system of signs to heighten the emotional impact of the scene, as well as the cultural codes which inform the artwork’s making and reception. A spot of orange pierces through the darkness, which may be interpreted as the light from a distant fire. The spatial ambiguity invites a consideration of perception and representation. The artwork challenges fixed meanings, asking us to engage with new ways of thinking about space. The formal qualities of the artwork function aesthetically, but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.