Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Hydrangea (Ajisai)

This print from a set of three woodblock printed albums displays the graphic design prowess of Kamisaka Sekka. The images were first distributed one by one to subscribers to the series but later were reissued in bound form, like this book, for mass consumers. Each print features a vignette taken from nature or Japanese literature. Many of the scenes have a long history in Japan, originating in the 900s or 1000s and having been interpreted by all manner of artists since that time. Sekka’s selections hew closely to precedents from the Rinpa style originated by painter Tawaraya Sōtatsu (c. 1570–c. 1640) and calligrapher Hon’ami Kōetsu (1558–1637).