Bijutsukai Pl.236
1901
Imagine a Mondrian painting, but make it traditional Japanese textile design. This plate from the 1901 art magazine *Bijutsukai* by Furuya Kōrin features three rectangular swatches of deep indigo fabric patterns. The white motifs—looking like splashing rain, stars, or abstract flowers—pop dramatically against the blue, arranged in a stepped, geometric composition that feels surprisingly modern. Kōrin was a master of the Rinpa revival, and here he turns traditional kimono patterns into a bold graphic statement. The elegant calligraphy on the right likely names the specific design, adding a poetic touch to this study of color and form.