Bell Hill, 1923

“A cathedral on a wooded hill seems to dematerialize into a flaming sky. Treating the wood as his canvas and the chisel as his brush, Fujimori Shizuo carved the blocks roughly, leaving prominent marks that give the work an energetic, painterly quality and emphasize the physical character of his materials. He then printed the image himself, layering tones of dark pink. The dramatic composition, vigorous chisel marks, and unusual colour scheme make this a particularly striking work.”*

I was instantly drawn to this piece. The roughness of the carving really set this woodblock print apart from all of the others. It has the quality of a painting, but the chisel marks immediately reminded me that it was a print. The simplicity of the colors complemented the piece; I wasn’t too focused on the colors, and instead paid more attention to the art and the craftsmanship.

It’s hard to say how this print made me feel. I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be sad, hopeful, or anything else. It’s really hard to put my finger on it. It could have a religious meaning, as it depicts a cathedral.