Avondschermering 1890

Editor: Here we have Yamamoto Shoun's woodblock print, "Avondschermering," created around 1890. The wispy greys immediately create this hazy, melancholic atmosphere, and the figure seems so solitary, doesn’t it? What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, absolutely. That solitary figure teetering on the edge of… something. It reminds me of those moments when the world seems to soften, doesn't it? Shoun's work is particularly good at evoking a quiet kind of wonder using deceptively simple compositions. I wonder, does the bird in flight feel like a symbol of freedom or loneliness to you? Editor: I hadn’t even noticed the bird! Now that I see it, maybe a bit of both? What is interesting to me is the line quality – so precise yet evoking so much depth. Curator: Exactly. It is such controlled chaos, wouldn’t you agree? Japanese woodblock prints often carry an intimacy because they require a dialogue between artist, carver and printer. You can feel that connection. It is quite meditative if you can connect to it. And this image, the Japanese influence is apparent, and yet the theme feels so universal. Editor: It really does. Thinking about the collaborative process gives me a deeper appreciation for the piece. Curator: Me too! It is almost like you can feel them breathe into it. What if this image inspired a short story, what would be the setting? Editor: Somewhere between worlds, for sure. Misty, remote, somewhere between waking and sleep. Curator: Beautiful! The power of art!