SEKKA, KAMISAKA : - Uta-e (Poems and Pictures). Kyoto, Unsodo, Showa 9 (1934).

. Size: 30.7 x 21.8 cm. Lvs (28). The album contains 25 exquisite woodblock-printed illustrations by Sekka in the Neo-Rinpa style, each together with a classical poem. Bound in the traditional Japanese style with original decorated cloth covers, cotton ties, paper title label on upper cover, slight fading along edges. Housed in the original cloth folder the printed paper label, rubbed, worn at spine ends, one clasp missing. Very rare.Kamisaka Sekka was one of Japan's leading artists and designers in the early 20th century, known as the father of the Neo-Rinpa style. Many of his works display a fusion of traditional Japanese and contemporary Western design concepts. This is Sekka's last work and it was created by him as a tribute to Hon'ami K›etsu (1558-1637). He was the founder of the Rinpa school of painting, a Japanese genre based on nature which originated in the early 17th century, and developed into the Neo-Rinpa style in the early 20th century. Several of the poems have some offsetting from the prints, as is usual, but overall a great copy. Ref.: Kamisaka Sekka: Dawn of modern Japanese Design, 2012. Ref. Hillier, Art of the Japanese book.