Untitled 

This is an undated painting by Kiyokata Kaburagi, made with mineral pigments on silk, in the *nihonga* style. Kaburagi was renowned for his mastery of this technique. He used crushed minerals to create the soft colors you see here, building up thin layers of pigment mixed with animal glue to create a luminous effect. Look closely at the woman’s kimono, and you can see how the artist has exploited the absorbent nature of silk to create subtle gradations of tone. The overall effect is ethereal and dreamlike. The *nihonga* style emerged in the late 19th century as a conscious effort to preserve traditional Japanese painting techniques. Kaburagi updated the style with modern subjects, and also drew on his experience as an illustrator, employing a precise line and a strong sense of narrative. These elements, combined with the skilled craft of silk painting, result in an image that beautifully blends traditional aesthetics with modern sensibilities. This is not so much fine art, as an elevated, intensely refined form of craft.