“Solitude” is a series of eleven woodcuts by contemporary Japanese artist Naoko Matsubara.
“Solitude” is presented as reflections on Henry David Thoreau. The style is expressionistic, wherein Matsubara strives to show the inner energy in living beings such as trees. To recognize this quality of sentient beings requires a sensitivity to solitude, for it sets aside our own consciousness to identify fully with — in this case — trees.
Solitude is Thoreau’s physical and intellectual setting, and the woodcuts seem to derive energy as much from his inspiration as from the physical beings themselves. Trees find their liberation into a charged nature sanctified by Thoreau’s presence.
A further clue into understanding the art is that fact that Matsubara was brought up in the Shinto tradition, which identifies closely the spiritual in living objects.
Many web references available, including (at this writing) a site with the eleven “Solitude” series woodcuts: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/821279