Picture Cards 1901

This book, called "Picture Cards," was made by Kamisaka Sekka, who lived from 1866 to 1942. It’s at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s all about the experience of handling the book, opening it, feeling the paper. The pale buff ground seems to glow softly, contrasting with the darker calligraphic line work that describes a landscape. There's a sense of spontaneity, and the marks feel immediate, almost like a sketch made from life. I’m drawn to the edges of the paper, the way they're bound together with delicate stitching. Those little knots feel so intimate, like whispers connecting one page to the next. This reminds me of Cy Twombly, who was also interested in a kind of art that emphasized the poetic gesture, the accidental mark, and the beauty of imperfection. Ultimately, this work leaves you with questions. It’s an invitation to slow down, to observe, and to find beauty in the unexpected.