Bijutsukai Pl.180
1901
Imagine a traditional Japanese kimono pattern exploded into a graphic poster—that's the vibe here. Furuya Kōrin takes the noble aoi (hollyhock) crest, famously linked to the Tokugawa shoguns, and ties it up with vibrant red braided cords against a moody black background. The outlines shift between electric blue and soft teal, creating a hypnotic rhythm that feels surprisingly modern for 1901. This piece appeared in Bijutsukai (The Art World), a magazine that helped introduce these lavish Rinpa school designs to a wider audience just as Japan was opening up to the world.
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