scrunched spitzack woodblock woodcut mokuhanga print printmaking washi seattle art

"Scrunched" points to a compressed or compacted form as the print's central subject, a title that reads as either descriptive of an object or as a study in deformation and pressure. The single-word title aligns with a tradition in contemporary mokuhanga of isolating an everyday motif and treating it with the technical seriousness once reserved for bijin-ga or meisho-e. Achieving the visual sense of crumpled material in water-based woodblock requires careful manipulation of the baren during printing — varying pressure produces the subtle tonal shifts that read as folds, creases, and depth on washi. Carved key blocks define the contour of the form, while color blocks provide the modeling. Spitzack's recognition at the 2024 Echizen conference reflects a community of practitioners drawn to mokuhanga precisely because its physical demands force close attention to surface, fold, and grain. The print fits within the artist's broader investigation of small-scale, observed subjects rendered through traditional Japanese technique.