Cheerful Afternoon 1964

Tadashi Nakayama's Cheerful Afternoon is a woodblock print, and you can feel that process in the layered effect of the colours, building a complex image from simple, bold shapes. I find myself drawn to the rough texture of the ochre background. It's almost like a distressed wallpaper, setting a nostalgic mood. This texture contrasts with the smoother, more vibrant colours of the butterfly. Look at those little drips of paint around the eyes of the wings, like tears, or maybe just dew? It's this kind of detail that makes the piece so alive. The horses at the bottom seem to emerge from the same dreamlike space as the butterfly, their patterns echoing the same circular motifs. Nakayama's print reminds me of Arthur Dove, another artist who found endless inspiration in the natural world, always experimenting with how to simplify form and intensify colour. I love how both artists prove that art isn't about answers, but about the joy of looking and the endless possibilities of interpretation.