Forest 1928

abstract expressionism

abstract painting

cave painting

impressionist landscape

japan

fluid art

abstract nature shot

abstract composition

natural texture

organic texture

expressionist

Katayama Bokuyō’s 1928 painting, *Forest*, depicts a serene Japanese forest scene. The work showcases Bokuyō’s signature style, known for its meticulous attention to detail and vibrant colors. The dense forest floor, covered in lush greenery and delicate white flowers, is illuminated by a soft, diffused light. The towering trees create a sense of depth and tranquility, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the natural world. This artwork, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, exemplifies Bokuyō’s mastery of capturing the essence of Japanese landscapes.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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At the young age of twenty-seven, Katayama Bokuyō was awarded the grand prize at Japan's annual Imperial Juried Exhibition in 1927. The following year, he submitted this painting showing a weasel nearly hidden in a tangled bed of flowering fishmint (dokudami) deep in the forest. The judges were so impressed that he was given the status of mukansa, literally "non-vetted," meaning that henceforth any painting he submitted to the annual exhibition would be automatically included. Bokuyō championed a style of painting collectively known as nihon-ga (literally, Japanese style painting) to distinguish it from Western-style oil painting, which was gaining popularity in Japan. Nihon-ga artists used traditional subjects, formats and materials, but their approach often reveals some influence from the West. Here the logical recession into deep space and subtle color variations to suggest atmospheric depth are the result of Bokuyō's exposure to Western art. Nevertheless, the dramatically tipped ground-plain, reduction of motifs, and precisely applied mineral pigments are elements of traditional painting.