Odds and Ends

A "Renaissance Man" might loosely be defined as one who is cultured, or proficient in a wide range of fields. The term, while generally associated with the West, also has an Eastern counterpart: The Samurai of Japan.

While primarily a warrior, The Samurai, who followed the code of Bushido, or "The Way of the Warrior" was expected to be a master of such diverse disciplines as Archery, flower arrangement, Zen Buddhism, tea ceremony, etc.

In the Japanese woodblock print below, Two fearsome Japanese Samurai, one an archer, the other a foot soldier, completely decked out in armor, pause to gaze at the amazing beauty of a cherry tree in blossom.

The Japanese design ethic often favors clean lines and simplicity. In keeping with this design philosophy, and in consultation with our client, a neutral single museum mat was chosen, complimented by a 1" matte black slightly rounded moulding, to pay homage to and emulate the shape of the tree trunk, which is a major compositional element in this wonderful image. Also, note the falling cherry blossoms which evoke the transitory and ephemeral nature of human existence.