The Ainu Tree — Fine Art

The Ainu Tree by Louise Bourgeois shows a vertical form rising through the page, with darker pigment gathering near the base and lighter tones above. The artist often used tree forms and body shapes together in her prints.

This fine art piece is on matte paper, so the tones stay even under indoor light and there is no shine on the surface. A light frame on a dark wall lets the pale ground stand out. A dark frame on a pale wall gives the dark base more weight.

In a narrow hallway, the vertical shape meets your eye as you pass by, and the dark base lines up with the floorboards. The lighter top fades into the pale paint on the upper wall. You notice the simple marks first, then the way the form sits against the room.