Momoyogusa (Flowers of a Hundred Worlds) - Kamisaka Sekka

A woodblock print from the Momoyogusa series by Kamisaka Sekka, featuring a boy playing a flute beside an ox in the traditional Rinpa style.

This woodblock print originates from the collection titled Momoyogusa, or Flowers of a Hundred Worlds, published between 1909 and 1910. Kamisaka Sekka was a major figure in the early twentieth-century revival of the Rinpa school, a traditional Japanese art movement known for its decorative qualities and bold use of colour. Sekka spent time in Europe, where he observed Western design principles, yet he remained committed to the aesthetic traditions of Kyoto.

The composition depicts a young boy playing a flute beside a large, recumbent ox. The artist employs a minimalist approach, using flat planes of colour and simplified forms to create a sense of calm. The deep black of the ox contrasts with the pale background, while the boy in his blue garment provides a subtle tonal shift. The lines are clean and deliberate, characteristic of the woodblock printing technique used to produce these volumes. Unlike the highly detailed ukiyo-e prints of the Edo period, this work favours a modern, graphic sensibility that anticipates later twentieth-century design movements.

Sekka was instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional Japanese craft and modern industrial design. His work for the Momoyogusa series demonstrates his ability to distil complex subjects into essential shapes. The print captures a quiet, pastoral moment, stripped of unnecessary detail. The focus remains on the relationship between the figures and the negative space surrounding them. By utilising the woodblock medium, Sekka achieved a matte finish and a depth of colour that remains distinct from Western oil painting. This piece represents the synthesis of historical Rinpa motifs with a contemporary eye for composition, resulting in a work that feels both ancient and modern.