Giant Daruma 1912

Nakahara Nantenbo made this Giant Daruma using ink on paper, but we don't know exactly when. I'm struck by the way the ink seems to dance across the surface, light and dark, wet and dry, all at once. The simple palette really lets you focus on the gestures themselves. Look at the Daruma's beard, for example. It's made up of these thin, wispy lines that somehow create this full, almost tangible form. You can practically feel the texture of the paper. The artist really knew how to make every mark count, using the bare minimum of ink to create something so full of life and personality. And then there’s that bold stroke that loops around the head. It's so confident and free, like the artist just let the ink flow where it wanted to go. It reminds me a bit of some of Franz Kline's work, that same energy and immediacy. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it's about capturing a moment, an idea, with whatever means you have at your disposal.