My Natural Place c. 19th century

Murase Taiitsu painted this ink landscape on paper in the 19th century. The rustic fence, humble dwellings, and towering mountains represent a potent longing for a simpler, more harmonious existence. These symbols evoke a deep-seated cultural memory of the idyllic retreat. Consider how, across cultures, the fence has served not only as a physical boundary but also as a symbolic one. In ancient Roman art, gardens are enclosed by walls, and this signifies the containment of nature, while in the East, the fence suggests a boundary between the civilized and the untamed, between the world of human affairs and a space for contemplation. The human desire to mediate our relationship with the natural world continues to evolve. Taiitsu's landscape invites us to consider the interplay between control and freedom, the conscious and subconscious desire to shape our environment. It is a reminder of the enduring human quest for balance.