Spring

A woodblock print celebrating spring, the season of renewal that has inspired some of the finest works in the kacho-e tradition. Tsuchiya Rakuzan likely fills the oban format with cherry blossoms, plum branches, or wisteria paired with birds returning from their winter absence. Spring in Rakuzan's hands is not a generalized idea but a specific botanical moment, identifiable by the shape of petals, the angle of new growth, and the species of bird drawn to each flowering plant. The freshness of water-based pigments printed on washi paper suits the subject perfectly, the translucent layers of color echoing the lightness of spring air.