From the Painting Guide: To me there's a very Japanese feel about this tree; I think it's the unclutteredness of the canvas, the bold lines of the stem and branches, and the limited palette. The clouds in the background prevent it from being flat and uninteresting, while the red leaves add a strong splash of colour and interest. I imagine some of the leaves' red was mixed with the sky's blue for the violet parts of the clouds, which helps the feeling of unity and harmony.