Plum 1909 - 1910

Kamisaka Sekka created this woodblock print, Plum, using bold shapes and contrasting colours. The composition immediately grabs your attention with a combination of angular branches and delicate blossoms. The branches, rendered in stark black, create a dynamic network against the flat planes of tan and black, evoking a sense of depth through layering rather than traditional perspective. The semiotic interplay here is fascinating. The plum blossoms, traditionally symbols of resilience and renewal, are stylized into almost abstract forms. Sekka manipulates the visual language of Japanese art, pushing the boundaries of representation. The sudden splash of red, bisecting the composition, adds a disruptive element, challenging the viewer's expectations of harmony. Sekka seems to be engaging with the concept of 'Ma'—the Japanese aesthetic of negative space—to create visual tension. This print is not merely a depiction of plum blossoms; it is a carefully constructed arrangement of shapes and colors that destabilizes our understanding of nature, representation, and beauty.