Susaki Benten 

Keisai Eisen created this print, ‘Susaki Benten’, sometime before 1848, using woodblock printing techniques. Immediately, the composition draws your eye to the figure. Its graphic clarity relies on strong outlines to define shapes and patterns. The woman’s kimono reveals an intricate play of geometric and organic motifs: blossoms, squares and wave patterns suggesting the confluence of natural beauty and structured design. A muted palette of greys, blacks, and ochre is punctuated by a delicate pink on the collar and the lining, adding a subtle vibrancy. Consider how the use of the limited colour palette and flattened perspective serve to focus on the surface patterns and the interplay between line and form. The print engages with the artistic and cultural codes of its time, but its formal qualities invite a deeper consideration of how such works challenge our perceptions of space, representation, and visual harmony. The artist invites us to continuously interpret the interplay of form and meaning.