Honderd ontwerpen - deel twee

Ogino Issui made this print, Honderd ontwerpen – deel twee, date unknown, with an approach to mark-making that feels both delicate and direct. It’s like a whispered secret, rendered in soft greys and browns. The texture here is intriguing; it’s not just about what’s depicted but how it’s depicted. Look closely, and you’ll see the paper's grain subtly influencing the lines of those birds. They huddle together, these little guys, their forms defined by a confident outline, a few sparse details inside. Those thin lines feel almost like a child's drawing, but then the composition as a whole is way more sophisticated than that. The background’s trees are super interesting as well; they become almost abstract, just a network of interconnected lines that recede into the distance, framing those birds in the foreground. I’m reminded a little of Arthur Dove, actually, in the way that he rendered natural forms. But what feels relevant here is how simple materials can convey so much about seeing.