A Woodcut Design by Kamisaka Sekka: 1902

1902
14 1/4" x 9 3/4", 36 cm x 24.5 cm 

This woodblock print is one leaf from a folio of 34 pages by the Kyoto-born Rinpa school artist, Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942).  The folio, entitled "Kairo" (Ocean Road) was published in 1902 in Kyoto by Unsodo.

Sekka, born into a samurai family, was something of a prodigy and his talents were recognized early.  In 1901 Sekka made his first trip to Europe, and in the designs realized in "Kairo," the European influence is easily seen.

"Kairo" is a folio of designs for obi and kimono and each of the designs is a variation or interpretation on the subject of waves and the ocean.

This print is from the first edition of "Kairo."  Please note that over the image there is a shadow, or offset, from another image that must have been pressed against this one over time.