Madame Kusunogi Masashige 1944

Uemura Shoen made this painting of Madame Kusunogi Masashige with what looks like opaque watercolours on silk. There's something about the way she’s painted the figure that reminds me of drawing, and how the slow and controlled application of paint can be like sketching with pigment. Look closely and you’ll notice how the painting has very little depth or shading, giving it an almost flattened, graphic quality. I find it fascinating how Shoen uses colour and line to create form, rather than relying on traditional modelling techniques. The colour palette is really gorgeous too, with that soft, muted gold of the kimono contrasted against the stark white of the undergarments and skin. Check out how the subtle variations in tone and texture across the surface create a sense of depth. In some ways, this piece reminds me of the work of Gustav Klimt, with its emphasis on decorative pattern and flattened space. It's like she's participating in a conversation with other artists across time and space.