Autumn Tints

Autumn Tints translates the Japanese love of momiji, autumn foliage viewing, into woodblock form. The title uses the English word tints rather than the more common colors or leaves, suggesting a focus on the subtle chromatic shifts that occur as chlorophyll retreats from maple and other deciduous leaves. Nishida renders these color transitions through successive block impressions, each adding a layer of red, orange, gold, or brown to build up the full spectrum of autumn. The woodblock medium is particularly suited to autumn subjects because its flat color areas can be overprinted to create the mottled, variegated effect of a forest in seasonal transition. Nishida's treatment likely combines close observation of specific foliage with the simplified, decorative quality that makes his prints immediately appealing.