Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) VIII 1959

Tadashi Nakayama made this intriguing print, Rappa-Shu (Trumpeter) VIII, with what looks like a playful attitude and a bold approach to color. I can imagine the artist experimenting with different shapes and textures, almost like a visual jazz composition. The image pops with vibrant yellows, reds, and blues, punctuated by dark blacks that give the print a strong graphic punch. Look at how the colors interact—the yellow seems to vibrate against the red, creating a sense of energy. The splatters and dots of color, the abstract shapes, and the way they’re layered, remind me a bit of Miró, but with Nakayama’s own distinct sensibility. I wonder what Nakayama was thinking as he created this piece. There’s a spontaneity to it, as if he were allowing the materials to guide him, a conversation between the artist, the ink, and the paper. Each artist borrows, steals, and transforms the ideas of those who came before, building an ongoing dialogue that spans generations. This piece feels like a joyful and inquisitive addition to that conversation.