Bacchus 

Hideo Hagiwara made this print, Bacchus, using woodcut techniques. The image emerges from a stark contrast between the untouched paper and the areas where the woodblock has been carved away, then inked, and pressed to the page. You can almost feel the artist’s hand at work, carefully gouging out the wood to create the sinuous lines and textures that define Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. The grapes, leaves, and the god’s inebriated expression are all rendered with a graphic intensity that is characteristic of woodcut prints. Look closely, and you can see the artist’s mark in every line, a testament to the labor-intensive process and the direct connection between the artist and the material. This is not just an image; it is a record of a physical act, a performance of making, and a powerful reminder of the hand’s enduring role in art. Hagiwara, through his focus on material and process, collapses distinctions between craft and fine art.