Bijutsukai Pl.189
1901
Furuya Kōrin packed this 1901 illustration for the art journal *Bijutsukai* with a dizzying array of chrysanthemums, creating a pattern that feels both chaotic and perfectly balanced. As a leading figure in the Rinpa revival, Kōrin (who took his name from the legendary Ogata Kōrin) specialized in these bold, decorative nature motifs. The vertical striations in the background give the flowers a sense of movement, as if they are floating down a stream or caught in a gentle rain. It’s a lovely example of how traditional Japanese aesthetics were being preserved and celebrated right as the country was rushing into the modern age.
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