A Brocade of the Four Seasons 1903

Shimomura Tamahiro made this artwork, A Brocade of the Four Seasons, with ink, colour and gold on silk. The painting is muted and mysterious. Imagine the artist hunched over this small dark canvas, brushing on shapes, maybe landscapes, in dark greens and gold. I get the sense that Tamahiro is searching, feeling his way through the seasons rather than depicting them directly. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s work in a way. There is a sensitivity of touch, an intimacy, like a love letter written in code. And the gold calligraphy? It feels balanced and intentional against the dark surface. I wonder what it means? Does it describe or name? Or is it another layer of abstraction? Tamahiro is in conversation with artists across time and place who use these materials to explore the world around them. It is a beautiful, quiet dance.