Autumn 1955

Kazuo Nakamura made this painting, Autumn, without a specified date, using what looks like oil on canvas to conjure a forest scene. I love how the stark verticals of the trees become a space for experimentation in mark-making, the repeated strokes building up to a textural surface. The color palette is muted, almost monochromatic, which lends a certain contemplative mood to the piece. It’s like Nakamura is thinking through the act of painting, letting the process guide the composition. Look at how the paint is applied thinly, allowing the ground to peek through, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. You can almost feel the cool air of an autumn day! I'm reminded of Agnes Martin, the way she used simple gestures to create complex, evocative spaces, but Nakamura's got a bit more grit, a more tactile sensibility. Ultimately, this painting is about embracing the ambiguity of the natural world, inviting us to find our own meaning within its delicate layers.