Autumn Flowers in a Bamboo Basket 1760s

Editor: This scroll painting, *Autumn Flowers in a Bamboo Basket*, was done with ink in the 1760s by Yosa Buson, and is on display here at the Met. I’m really struck by the simple composition. There's something almost meditative about it. What's your interpretation of this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It’s funny you say "meditative" because, for me, the work has an underlying playful element. The rough brushstrokes that define the floral shapes feel joyful. Consider how Buson allows the ink to bleed, refusing to constrain the forms; the ink becomes untamed, not trying to imitate any sense of physical "realism". Editor: That’s interesting! I was so focused on the grayscale color that I missed the playfulness in the ink’s fluidity. But that sense of freedom... I guess that's how ukiyo-e prints influenced impressionism? Curator: Precisely! Ukiyo-e often captures fleeting moments, and you can see that same influence here. But let's flip it around. The Ukiyo-e floating world embraces everyday joys. Is that what attracts us here? That the autumn’s fleeting beauty finds permanence through Buson’s playful rendering? Editor: Maybe that’s it. There’s definitely something enduring about the arrangement that speaks to the beauty in imperfection. I really appreciate your perspective. Curator: And I appreciate your insights! It just shows you how one artist's brush can awaken endless feelings and perceptions in the world!