Snow at Mukojima 1931

Hasui Kawase made this woodblock print, Snow at Mukojima, using carefully carved blocks to layer color and create depth. What strikes me is the way the light seems to glow from within the falling snow, like a memory, or a dream. The blues and whites of the scene are built up through many thin layers, giving the whole image a soft, velvety texture. It’s like the artist is building up a world, one delicate layer at a time. Look at how the tiny white specks of snow are scattered across the dark sky, each one distinct, yet part of a unified whole. That’s what making art feels like to me. Kawase's prints remind me a little of Whistler's nocturnes, in the way they capture a fleeting moment, a mood, a sense of atmosphere. But where Whistler used paint, Kawase used woodblocks. Both artists invite us to slow down, to look closely, and to find beauty in the unexpected. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time and cultures.