Basket c. 1920s - 1930s

This basket was made by Suzuki Gangansai, sometime between 1891 and 1950. Look at the way the reddish-brown bamboo has been woven and structured. I love to imagine Gangansai choosing, preparing, and dyeing the bamboo, and then beginning the slow process of weaving. You can almost feel the artist’s focus, the way his hands knew just how much tension to apply. The upper part of the basket is tightly woven, a solid mass of bamboo that gives way to a more open pattern. This shift creates a sense of lightness, of airiness, as if the basket is breathing. The spaces are balanced with the material itself, allowing for a play of light and shadow. The handle has a beautiful curve, an elegance that's almost like calligraphy. I wonder what Gangansai was thinking as he created this piece? Was he considering the teachings of his predecessors, or pushing the boundaries of the craft? Each artist builds upon the work of those before them.