18TH CENTURY JAPANESE SCREEN

How an encounter with an 18th century Japanese screen painting found its way into my work.

Several years ago as I crossed the Mall in Washington on my way back to my hotel, I decided I had to duck into the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, part of the Smithsonian, and see the Asian work there. On display was the Price Collection, on loan from Los Angeles. The first piece I saw as I entered the exhibition was "Pine and Plum Trees in Snowstorm" by Katsu Jagyoku, the 18th Century Japanese artist.

The room was dimmed and soft light fell on an enormous screen with branches and falling snow. I felt completely enveloped by the piece. I had both a calm and emotional response to it, a feeling that has stayed with me to this day.

Jagyoku Katsu. "Pine and Plum Trees in Snowstorm," a/k/a "Crows and Plum Tree, Rabbits and Pine Trees in Snow."

Jagyoku Katsu. "Pine and Plum Trees in Snowstorm," a/k/a "Crows and Plum Tree, Rabbits and Pine Trees in Snow."

A representation of these screens on a computer cannot begin to give you the feeling of the atmosphere, nor the enormous scale of the pieces. I was impressed by the way so much was conveyed with such an economy of means, and almost no color. When I am shaken by a work of art like this, it will find its way into my work. The piece that was most directly affected by this experience is this one:

"Almond Tree - Light Through Rain", 72” x 96”, 4-parts,oil, enamel and metallic paint on canvas, © Leslie Parke 2017

I chose to use the motif of the almond tree, which I have been working with for years, precisely because I am so familiar with it. I can work with it freely. 

This time I painted it on several panels to give it the feeling of the Japanese screens. I limited the palette, as Katsu Jagyoku had. I preserved his scale and the mood of the original screen. What is impossible to see here is that I have used reflective paint that makes light bounce off the surface of the canvas and also changes with the light.