japanese maple in the wrong position

This was in the garden when I moved in last spring. It wasn't well placed under a corkscrew willow and although it did provide some nice colour last year it doesn't bear a lot of leaves.

This year the branches could be a foot longer and my wife can't get to the washing line. I've looked at pruning but It looks like the pruning needed would leave it even sadder

I've put in a last spring photo and a today picture. This has driven me bonkers as they wouldn't upload at all and now I can't remove the "every images" with no cancel button. So there are just the two photos the rest duplicateing them selves

 

It actually looks ok to me in the first picture.
Of the two I'd get rid of the willow, but that is just my choice.

Maybe move the washing line.

 

Could you crown-lift the willow to give the Japanese maple more light and allow better access to the washing line? Are the trees in a north-facing position?