Visited an exhibition at the British museum recently – Hiroshige: Artist Of The Open Road. Utagawa Hiroshige was a 19th century Japanese print maker. Most of the prints I saw were in color. But this one has a ghost like quality which appeals to me. It makes me think of a drawing I am currently working on, which depicts a traveler walking into a wild and fantastical landscape. This print really makes me want to ‘travel’ further down the path. It makes me wonder what is happening beyond the mountains and trees, draws me in.
One thing that also made this one stand out from the rest of the exhibition is the limited colour palette. This print is an example of how good art does not necessarily need to be complicated. There is not always a need to show how clever you are using striking colour combinations and elaborate patterns. Sometimes the sheer simplicity of what you are doing can be astonishing.
Hiroshige: artist of the open road | British Museum