Moss (Koke) No. 1, Shôwa period,

Moss, or koke, is a subject with deep resonance in Japanese culture, where the famous gardens of Saiho-ji (the Moss Temple) in Kyoto elevate this humble plant to the status of high art. Masaji's first entry in a "Moss" series approaches the subject abstractly, translating the organism's qualities of slow growth, soft texture, and pervasive coverage into woodblock form. The Showa-period dating places this print within the era of Japan's postwar modernization. Moss suggests patience and the passage of long stretches of quiet time, themes that connect to the "Ancient" series in Masaji's catalog. The color woodblock medium can approximate moss's velvety surface through areas of densely applied pigment where the grain of the wood shows through, creating a tactile visual texture.