Boten in de sneeuw 1900 - 1940

Yamamoto Shoun made this print of boats in the snow sometime between 1870 and 1965. Look at the way the silvery light bounces off the water, how the snow weighs down the reeds and blankets the boats. The artist probably thought a lot about capturing the stillness and silence of this wintery landscape. Imagine Shoun layering those colours, one on top of the other, building up the scene like a quiet symphony. There's something so comforting in the way he's used line and colour to create the texture of the snow. When I look at this print, I feel like I'm standing there, feeling the cold air on my face. And it makes me think about other artists who have tried to capture the beauty of winter, like Hiroshige. We are all in constant conversation across time.