Morning Glory 1946

Koshiro Onchi made this print called Morning Glory with woodblocks. The orange and black shapes aren’t trying to show a flower as it is, but instead it feels like Onchi wanted to show how he felt about the flower. I can imagine him carefully carving the wood, thinking about the negative space as much as the positive. Those lines and shapes are so bold, almost like he was making a statement, cutting into the wood with purpose. The black vines twist and turn like the flowers are dancing. The way the orange spreads out, it’s like feeling the sun on your face. There’s this sense of joy and playfulness, like Onchi was just having a good time making art. It reminds me of Matisse's cut-outs—simple shapes, but they carry so much emotion.