The Sea

This storage box for a Noh mask is lacquered and adorned with cast metal. The lacquer conveys the geometric forms of waves, and is subtly blurred in a beautifully expressive fashion. In contrast with this, only the sea lion atop rocks is depicted realistically, with the nearby waves taking on stylized triangular shapes that evoke both ocean waves and desert sands. The Bunten (exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education), first held in 1907, had three divisions, for Japanese-style painting, Western-style painting, and sculpture. It was later reorganized as the Teiten (art exhibition of the Imperial Academy), which introduced a crafts division with its eighth edition in 1927. The sea lion in this work, clambering up from the sea onto the windswept rocks and looking skyward, appears to symbolize the emotions of the artist, who played a key role in establishing the crafts division. (N.R.)