De 53 stations van de Tokaido en de Japanse Binnenzee 1920 - 1923

Mizushima Niou made this woodblock print book, *The 53 Stations of the Tokaido and the Japanese Inland Sea*, sometime in the 20th century, and it's just so charming, isn't it? The colors are muted, almost like watercolors bled into paper, the kind of happy accidents that come from letting go of control. The cover on the left is simple: a solitary figure, maybe taking a smoke break under a tree. It’s a snapshot of everyday life, quiet and personal. The one on the right is way more complex, with text and images all crammed together in a kind of organized chaos. Look at the way the colors overlap, creating new shades and textures – see that salmon color? – it all feels so immediate and unfiltered. I love that. It reminds me of early Hockney, with it's bright, playful energy. In both cases, the finished piece feels like a record of a thought process, or a conversation between the artist and the materials. It's not about perfection; it's about embracing the imperfections and seeing where they lead you.