Fashionable Seven Autumn Plants (Fūzoku aki nanakusa) 1818 - 1844

Toyohara Sadatora created this woodblock print titled, "Fashionable Seven Autumn Plants" in the 19th century. The composition presents a poised figure amidst a vibrant natural setting, a juxtaposition that captures our attention. The woman’s kimono, with its intricate patterns, displays a dialogue between nature and artifice. Observe the horizontal lines of the garment against the organic forms of the flowers and water. These elements create a tension between the constructed world of fashion and the fluid, unpredictable forms of nature. The artist employs color to further this contrast. The muted blues and greens of the background allow the bright reds and yellows of the flora to pop, drawing our eye. The plants, rendered in a stylized manner, serve as signs pointing to cultural ideals of beauty and transience. Notice how the print doesn't simply represent a scene. Instead, it invites us to reflect on the interplay between representation and reality, and the role of art in shaping our perception. The composition, color and line work together to construct a space where nature and culture, representation and reality, constantly redefine each other.