Verzameling bladeren van Mikido Possibly 1934

This is ‘Verzameling bladeren van Mikido’ by Yamaguchi Hachikushi. It lives at the Rijksmuseum. I love how the sparse composition invites you into a quiet, reflective space. Imagine the artist, Yamaguchi Hachikushi, carefully arranging each leaf, each stroke, with a sense of meditative calm. It’s like they’re not just painting leaves, but capturing the very essence of nature's fleeting beauty. There's a delicate dance between representation and abstraction going on here. The pale washes create a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere, while the precise details of the leaves offer a grounding sense of reality. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in its subtle exploration of form and texture, but with a distinctly Japanese sensibility. It’s as though Yamaguchi is whispering secrets of the natural world. It's a reminder that art-making is a way of slowing down, paying attention, and finding beauty in the simplest of things.