Design of Flowers
Medium
Woodblock print (leaf from an album); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 10 in. (25.4 cm); W. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1828
Tags
Art Historical Context
Ogata Kōrin's *Design of Flowers*, a woodblock print from an album leaf, captures the vibrant essence of nature during Japan's Edo period (16151868). Created with ink and color on paper this 10-by-14-inch sheet showcases Kōrin's mastery in the Rinpa school, a decorative style emphasizing bold floral motifs, asymmetry, and rhythmic patterns inspired by seasons and poetry. Though the exact date is unknown, it the era's flourishing urban culture, where art celebrated beauty amid peace and prosperity. Kōrin, a leading Rinpa artist, elevated traditional flower depictions through innovative techniq...
About the Artist
Ogata Kōrin · 1658–1716
Noted as one of the most important Japanese artists of the 17th century; known for paintings of irises and other subjects. He was regarded, along with Sotatsu, as one of the masters of the Sotatsu-Koetsu school of decorative painting, including painted screens and textile designs. He was descended from a samurai who had served under the Ashikaga rulers.