Duizend grassen, deel 3 1903

Editor: Here we have "Duizend Grassen, deel 3" from 1903, a painting and print by Kamisaka Sekka, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. The subdued color palette and the stylized birds give it a quiet, almost melancholy feel. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: What strikes me immediately is how Sekka uses a traditional medium – prints – to express modern artistic ideals. This work appeared during the Meiji period, a time when Japan was rapidly modernizing and looking to the West. Yet, artists like Sekka also consciously maintained elements of their own cultural heritage. Where do you see that tension playing out? Editor: Perhaps in the contrast between the traditional subject matter of birds in flight and the simplified, almost geometric forms. It feels both ancient and new at the same time. Curator: Precisely. And how do you think that interplay between the traditional and the modern would have been received at the time, and what role did pieces such as this play in Japan? Think about the institutions, such as art schools and exhibitions, that were solidifying then. Editor: It must have been challenging! On the one hand, there was pressure to create something new, and on the other, the need to respect and continue their artistic traditions. It probably had a place in those changing art scenes in Japan. Curator: Exactly. And the presentation of Japanese art internationally was very much shaping Japan's image on a world stage at the time, carefully balanced to showcase modernity without foregoing its ancient past. It also suggests an awareness of, and commentary on, cultural identity. What do you make of that? Editor: I had not even thought of that element; thinking about cultural exchange is what gives this work deeper meaning, I think. Thanks for your insight! Curator: Indeed. Looking at art through the lens of history allows us to appreciate the rich context in which it was created, making it resonate far beyond just visual appeal.