Cherry blossom time 1946

Koshiro Onchi made this print called, *Cherry Blossom Time*. Imagine the artist, looking at the cherry blossoms, thinking about the beauty of the moment, the transient nature of life, and the practice of woodblock printing. How many blocks do you think he used? And how did he align them? The mauve and pink create a soft, dream-like quality, but notice the woman’s face, and the precise carving of the line of her jaw. I think he’s in dialogue with ukiyo-e masters like Hokusai and Hiroshige, but with a modern twist—a simplification of form and a focus on personal expression. It reminds me how artists are always talking to each other, across time, pinching ideas, riffing off each other. It is a reminder that art-making is a collective endeavor, rooted in tradition, but always pushing towards something new.