Kamisaka Sekka
Born in Kyoto in 1866, Kamisaka Sekka (given name Yoshitaka) was one of the foremost artists and designers of modern Japan. He first studied painting under Suzuki Zuigen of the Shijō school and later learned design under Kishi Kokei. Deeply influenced by the Rinpa tradition of Hon’ami Koetsu and Ogata Korin, Sekka worked across a wide range of disciplines, creating designs for lacquerware, textiles, interior decoration, and numerous pattern books.
Following travels in Europe, Sekka incorporated elements of Art Nouveau into his work, developing a highly distinctive style that blended Japanese decorative traditions with modern international aesthetics. His innovative vision was widely admired in Europe and America, where he was recognized as a pioneering figure in modern Japanese design. Through his artistic and design activities, he played a significant role in the development of modern Japanese decorative arts.
Today, Sekka’s work continues to receive international acclaim, particularly in the West. Its timeless originality and refined decorative sensibility remain a source of inspiration, even for contemporary luxury brands. The bold and imaginative beauty of his designs retains a remarkable freshness more than a century after their creation.
The works presented here are later-edition woodblock prints from Sekka’s celebrated design album Momoyogusa (A World of Things). Printed from the original woodblocks of the period, each impression has been carefully hand-printed by contemporary master printers in Kyoto, preserving the brilliance and craftsmanship of the original publication.
Ito Jakuchu
Born in Kyoto in 1716, Ito Jakuchu was the son of a prosperous greengrocer in the Nishiki district. Largely self-taught, he studied the Rinpa tradition and various painting styles before developing an artistic language entirely his own. Renowned for his extraordinary attention to detail and imaginative compositions, Jakuchu is regarded as one of the most original painters of the Edo period.
Among his many subjects, depictions of roosters and chickens are especially celebrated, reflecting his keen observation of nature and his distinctive artistic vision.
The present work reproduces a portion of Jakuchu’s Floral Ceiling Paintings (Kaki-zu Tenjō-e). Printed from woodblocks preserved for generations, each impression has been hand-printed in Kyoto by skilled traditional printers, faithfully conveying the beauty and spirit of the original designs.
