Late Autumn 1909 - 1910

Kamisaka Sekka created ‘Late Autumn’ as a woodblock print, and the format itself speaks to the social conditions of its production. The print medium allowed for wider distribution and consumption of art. This was a time of rapid modernization in Japan during the Meiji and Taisho periods, as Japanese artists grappled with Western influences while seeking to preserve their cultural identity. ‘Late Autumn’ is a perfect example of this. Sekka blends traditional Japanese aesthetics, seen in the choice of natural subject matter and the decorative, two-dimensional style, with modern design principles influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. The scene reflects a reverence for nature, which has deep roots in Japanese culture and religion. The way in which Sekka has captured the fleeting beauty of autumn leaves could be seen as a metaphor for the transience of life. As art historians, we examine historical sources – prints, design, and craft magazines, exhibition reviews – to better understand the cultural and institutional context of works like this.