De Gion brug te Hondo in Amakusa 1924

This is Hasui Kawase’s woodblock print, "De Gion brug te Hondo in Amakusa," and it's all about how a scene can be built from line and tone. The cool, muted colors create a serene feeling, but it's the texture that really gets me. Look at the way the wood grain of the bridge is visible, and how the reflections in the water are suggested with just a few strokes. It’s not about perfect representation, but about capturing the essence of the scene. I think about the artist choosing which lines to carve, which areas to leave untouched – a real process of reduction and distillation. It reminds me a bit of Hiroshige, but with a more modern sensibility. Both artists share a love for the everyday, but Kawase brings a quieter, more personal touch. In the end, it’s a reminder that art is not about answers, but about the questions we ask and the ways we see.