Lacquer Paintings of Various Subjects: Bonsai 1882

This small painting of bonsai arrangements was made by Shibata Zeshin in 19th-century Japan, using lacquer on paper. Now, we tend to think of lacquer as a coating, something you brush onto a surface, but Zeshin was one of the great masters of lacquer as a sculptural material. Here, he has used it to build up a delicate, detailed image. Look at the way the lacquer gives depth and sheen to the dark, gnarled forms that elevate the tiny potted plants. Lacquer is made from the sap of a tree, but processing it into a workable material is a laborious, highly skilled process. Layer upon layer must be applied to achieve the desired effect. Consider also the social context here; bonsai are a luxury, an art of cultivation and control. Zeshin was a craftsman, not a member of the elite, yet with his command of lacquer, he elevated the humblest materials to the level of high art. This painting beautifully illustrates the blurred boundaries between craft and art.