Yusui Toku “Unai” Series – ‘Shizen Kaoru’ 自然薫 (Fragrance of Nature) – 1978 Shōwa Era Limited Edition | Kaga Yuzen Style Washi Print

About the Artwork
This contemplative piece, titled 「自然薫」(Shizen Kaoru / The Fragrance of Nature), is part of the Unai (うない) limited edition series by Yusui Toku (湯水得), created in 1978 (Shōwa 53).
A young boy, dressed in a richly patterned robe of red, black, and gold stripes, kneels quietly before a single dragonfly — a symbol of spiritual focus, transformation, and harmony with the natural world.

The minimal yet deeply balanced composition embodies wabi-sabi — beauty in simplicity and transience. The violet background evokes twilight serenity, emphasizing stillness and self-reflection.

Poetic Inscription (Verso)

自然薫 (Shizen Kaoru)
五つの年から馬道されて
代若葉にたちすまふ
命をも名をもや
ところでばしれんよの三百
(Excerpt inspired by Zen poetry on life’s transience and natural grace)

The verse alludes to the ephemeral nature of youth and spirit, harmonizing with the boy’s quiet communion with the dragonfly. It speaks of the universal truth in nature — the fragrance (kaoru) of existence that transcends time and name.

Artistic Features

• The Kaga Yuzen–inspired textile pattern symbolizes both refinement and restraint.

• The boy’s composed posture contrasts with the delicate life of the insect — a metaphor for awareness and impermanence.

• The artwork conveys a deep Zen aesthetic, where every gesture and color radiates calm introspection.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Yusui Toku (湯水得)

• Title: 自然薫 (Shizen Kaoru / Fragrance of Nature)

• Series: Unai (うない)

• Year: 1978 (Shōwa 53)

• Medium: Woodblock / mixed media print on handmade washi paper

• Style: Kaga Yuzen–inspired patterns, Zen minimalism

• Edition: Limited to 50 prints

• Publisher: Fuji Art Publishing (Japan)

Collector Highlights

• A philosophical composition symbolizing calm observation and unity with nature

• Hand-printed on textured washi with deckled edges

• Represents Yusui Toku’s meditative fusion of Japanese poetry, childhood innocence, and nature’s wisdom

• An ideal piece for collectors drawn to Zen-inspired, reflective Japanese art