Nasanunaka Possibly 1913 - 1919

“Nasanunaka,” by Shunyo Yanagawa uses what looks like gentle stenciled colours, to create a lovely floral scene. The way the colours are laid down, soft and almost smudged, gives the piece a dreamlike quality, like a memory fading at the edges. I love how the leaves and berries overlap, creating layers of depth without losing that delicate feel. It’s as if Yanagawa wasn't trying to replicate nature exactly, but to capture its fleeting beauty and fragility. There's a particular area, where the berries cluster most densely, that really grabs my attention. The colour deepens there, hinting at hidden sweetness. It reminds me of the way Agnes Martin would use subtle variations in tone to create a sense of endless space. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about embracing the beauty of imperfection and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.