the nature of nature

in his work, art and art industries in japan (1878), rutherford alcock singles out the love of nature and partiality towards the ever changing state of things to be characteristic of japanese art: nature being neither uniform nor repetitive, learning from it can result in a rich diversity, and this learning process from nature accounts for those characteristics of japanese art which are lacking in european art.

and clearly, with the rebirth of japonisme, arts and crafts, and art nouveau in our own time, the images still hold strength, beauty and appeal.







(genki raian--ca.1830; decorche- mont--ca.1900; ephraim faience--ca.2006)