Wereld der geuren Possibly 1905

Asai Chû made 'Wereld der geuren' – World of scents – with paint. It's hard to know exactly when, which I find really interesting, because it puts all the emphasis on the here and now, our process of looking. What strikes me is the flatness, and how the colors create depth without shading. The pale blues and yellows feel airy, like the smells are rising up off the page. There is a beautiful circular motif near the center that could be a seal, or a kind of perfume label. It is a striking series of lines that somehow manages to simultaneously stand out from the rest of the picture, but also integrate with the backdrop. It is all just so delicate. In a way, I am reminded of Milton Avery, with his way of simplifying landscapes down to just a few blocks of color. It's cool how artists, even from different cultures and times, can be in conversation with each other through their work. Art is a fluid thing; always moving, always changing.