Nearby Omuro 1929

Shotei Takahashi made this print, Nearby Omuro, and I can only imagine him, or his team, carefully applying each color, layer after layer. The indigo background, the crisp white peak, the subtle gradations of clouds—they all evoke a stillness and silence. I can feel the artist meditating on this subject in Omuro. You know, I often wonder what it’s like to be an artist working in a more traditional way than me, carefully planning each step. Look at how he has captured the scale of Mount Fuji with tiny figures at the base. The mountain feels both imposing and serene, like it's been there forever. I imagine this piece speaks to the Japanese tradition of landscape art, and the Shinto reverence for nature. There's this whole lineage of artists who've tried to capture its essence. These artists are always in conversation with one another, and I always feel like I am in conversation with them too!