Kataoka Nizaemon as Honzo 1925

Natori Shunsen made this print, Kataoka Nizaemon as Honzo, with ink and color on paper. It's so striking how the face is rendered almost like a mask, with very precise outlines, while the hair has a more organic, almost scratchy feel to it, like the process of drawing is right there on the surface. I keep thinking about the way the black ink pools in the clothing. The dark tones give the piece a real graphic punch, and the texture of the cloth is almost velvety. Then you see those little details, like the red dot on the handle, which creates this surprising moment of contrast. It reminds me a bit of Hiroshige, but with a more modern feel. Ultimately, the piece exists somewhere between representation and abstraction, between surface and depth, and I think that’s where the magic happens.