Sea Stone (Umi no ishi)

Titled "Umi no ishi" in Japanese, this color woodblock print from a limited edition of 50 impressions contemplates a stone shaped by ocean forces. Stones polished by saltwater and sand are common along Japan's coastline, their surfaces worn smooth over centuries of tidal action. Mizufune Rokushu likely reduces this subject to its essential geometry: a rounded, weighty form set against the suggestion of water or shore. The contrast between the stone's solidity and the sea's fluid motion creates a tension that has fascinated Japanese artists and poets for centuries. Edition number 26 places this impression near the middle of the run, where the carved block would still retain crisp detail. The print belongs to a group of sea-themed works in Mizufune's catalog, including "East of the Sea" and "Feast of the Sea," suggesting a sustained engagement with maritime subjects.