Juli 1909 1909

Nakamura Fusetsu made this print called Juli 1909, the title written in Japanese, using a woodblock, and look at those colours! The ochre and sage green sit together so calmly. You can tell that someone really got into the process of making this, because each colour must have been applied in separate layers, to create this image, a labour of love. The flatness of the image really emphasizes the physical quality of the print-making process. The horse and rider are rendered as blocks of colour, but there is texture there, in the grain of the paper, and a build up of ink. Take a look at the horse's head. It’s got such a simple shape, but it still manages to convey a sense of movement and energy. The whole composition feels so well-balanced. This print reminds me a little of the work of Gustave Baumann, who also made woodcuts with flat planes of colour, and a real love for the block itself. It is work that has ambiguity, an exchange of ideas across cultures and generations.