Maki Haku- Woman

Poem 70-8 (Woman)

This is Haku's modernized rendition of the Chinese character, 女, meaning "woman". Haku was born as Maejima Tadaaki, but went by his alias name. Haku's was known best for his abstract-calligraphic prints.  

This print strongly embodies the meaning of a woman not just through the script but also through the shape and color.  The vibrant red against the black captures the viewer's eyes, giving the strokes of the character a striking image.  At the same time there's a feeling of serenity to it.  The strokes of the characters are calligraphic and curvaceous like a woman's figure.  Though the red color is bold and vivid, the simplicity of the art and the flow of the strokes adds an elegance to it.  When I looked closer at the red strokes, the surface of the strokes didn't look completely flat. I noticed that there are black markings on them.  The texture of the strokes looked rough and uneven, but as a whole it still creates a meditative and calmness to it.

I find it interesting that the artist chose to use red, which is a powerful color in traditional Japanese society.  Red represents power and energy.  In the past, Japanese women carried a subservient image, rather than power.  But in a different and more modern interpretation, red could also represent love and intimacy. In this aspect women are seen as important for bearing children and perpetuating family, rather than just objects of love.  While still conserving the traditional character, I feel as though Haku stylized the character while trying to incorporate a more modern aspect and meaning to the word.