Mei 1905 Possibly 1905

Asai Chû created this woodblock print, titled Mei 1905, in Japan. I can just imagine the artist carving away at the woodblock, carefully considering each line and shape. What I find striking about this print is the use of color and how it creates such a vivid sense of depth. The swirling blues of the water, the blackness of the night, the subtle brown frog playfully emerging from the water. It's as if the artist is inviting us to dive into this nocturnal world, to feel the cool water lapping around us. The frogs, caught mid-leap, remind me of Degas' dancers, each pose a moment of fleeting grace. And then there's that inscription at the top, like a secret code. It makes me think about other Japanese printmakers, like Hokusai and Hiroshige, who also used text and image to create such powerful narratives. It's like they're all in conversation, sharing ideas and techniques across time. I love how painting and printmaking can be this ongoing exchange, a constant exploration of new ways of seeing and expressing the world around us.