Madame Kusunogi Masashige 1944

Uemura Shoen's Madame Kusunogi Masashige is an exercise in understated harmony. It makes me think about what it's like to find your focus, to sit with yourself. I can imagine Uemura Shoen- the artist- in her studio, experimenting with layers and glazes, trying to capture the poise of Madame Kusunogi. The ocherous robe and the stark, blank background create a sense of quiet contemplation, where the viewer feels like they're intruding on an intimate moment. And that singular gestural mark, that thin black line that defines the hair, is such a confident stroke! It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s work, the way she also managed to imbue her paintings with such a deep sense of calm through minimal means. Isn’t it curious how different artists, working in totally different contexts, can still speak to one another across time? To me, this painting is a reminder of the profound connections we all share.