Rice planting (Japanese Woman Sowing Rice)

Mediums: oil, burlap.
Location: private collection of A. and M. Beckerman (the USA).

In Japan, the author created about 300 works, 125 of which then were in private collections and museums in this country. The painting “Rice planting” was among the 150 canvases taken to America. It is known that Burliuk gave it to Mayakovsky, who came to the United States, but then the Beckermans managed to acquire a landmark, many-times-repeated picture. The impression of the everlasting and almost ritual process of women’s work in rice fields is conveyed by the rhythmic roll-call of the character’s “hands” and water flows, falling from the fingers. At that time, this technique was ultramodern and helped the artist create this painting classical in meaning and innovative in execution.