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Spencer Finch — Falling Linden Leaf
Spencer Finch

Falling Linden Leaf

2019

A single linden leaf caught mid-fall becomes the subject of this intimate woodblock print, measuring just four inches square when folded and expanding to variable dimensions when opened. Spencer Finch, long celebrated for translating the phenomenology of natural experience into visual and material form, brings that same attentive sensibility to this delicate work on Japanese paper. The choice of woodblock printing, a medium rooted in careful observation and the patient transfer of form, mirrors Finch's broader practice of rendering fleeting perceptual moments with exacting, almost meditative precision. Finch's connection to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego adds a particular resonance to this offering. In 2011, the museum commissioned the artist to create a light-filled installation for the Axline Court in La Jolla, establishing a relationship between his work and this institution that gives the print an added layer of provenance and meaning. That earlier commission translated atmospheric light into architectural experience, while "Falling Linden Leaf" compresses a similarly transient natural event into a format that fits within one's hands, making the ephemeral collectible without diminishing its quiet wonder. The custom enclosure functions not merely as packaging but as an extension of the work itself, framing the act of unfolding as a considered encounter. For collectors drawn to works that reward close attention, this piece offers an accessible entry point into Finch's practice while carrying the full weight of his conceptual rigor. Its modest scale belies a depth of intention that aligns comfortably alongside larger and more architecturally ambitious works in his catalog.

Medium
Woodblock print on Japanese paper in custom enclosure
Sheet

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About this work

Spencer Finch, Falling Linden Leaf, 2019

A single linden leaf caught mid-fall becomes the subject of this intimate woodblock print, measuring just four inches square when folded and expanding to variable dimensions when opened. Spencer Finch, long celebrated for translating the phenomenology of natural experience into visual and material form, brings that same attentive sensibility to this delicate work on Japanese paper. The choice of woodblock printing, a medium rooted in careful observation and the patient transfer of form, mirrors Finch's broader practice of rendering fleeting perceptual moments with exacting, almost meditative precision. Finch's connection to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego adds a particular resonance to this offering. In 2011, the museum commissioned the artist to create a light-filled installation for the Axline Court in La Jolla, establishing a relationship between his work and this institution that gives the print an added layer of provenance and meaning. That earlier commission translated atmospheric light into architectural experience, while "Falling Linden Leaf" compresses a similarly transient natural event into a format that fits within one's hands, making the ephemeral collectible without diminishing its quiet wonder. The custom enclosure functions not merely as packaging but as an extension of the work itself, framing the act of unfolding as a considered encounter. For collectors drawn to works that reward close attention, this piece offers an accessible entry point into Finch's practice while carrying the full weight of his conceptual rigor. Its modest scale belies a depth of intention that aligns comfortably alongside larger and more architecturally ambitious works in his catalog.

Medium
Woodblock print on Japanese paper in custom enclosure
Dimensions
sheet: 10.2 x 10.2 cm
Year
2019
Seen at
MCASD Benefit Auction

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Collected by

Gavin Kennedy