Verzameling moderne snelle tekeningen - Lente 1915 - 1917

This is Ishii Hakutei's 'Verzameling moderne snelle tekeningen - Lente', made with woodblock print. It's interesting to consider how Hakutei approached mark-making here, opting for bold, assertive strokes. The black ink sings against the off-white label, placed on a rough paperboard. This is artmaking as a process, a meditation on the act of creation itself. The texture of the work invites touch, an imagined connection to the artist's hand. Every detail, from the placement of each character, to the binding on the right side of the piece creates a complete visual experience. Notice, for example, the way the characters that descend down the white label aren't neatly aligned, but instead vary in their placement, giving the piece a loose and improvisational feel. Hakutei's work reminds me of Cy Twombly, another artist who embraced spontaneity and a sense of playful experimentation in his work. Ultimately, art thrives on ambiguity, inviting us to see the world in fresh, unexpected ways.