Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows:
Lacquerware decorated in gold is not something to be seen in a brilliant light, to be taken in at a single glance; it should be left in the dark, a part here and a part there picked up by a faint light. Its florid patterns recede into the darkness, conjuring in their stead an inexpressible aura of depth and mystery, of overtones but partly suggested.
Context is critical for craft. This passage is just brilliant, emphasizing how limited amounts of light and time create a deep impression.