The Father of Modern Japanese Design: The Elegant Butterflies of Kamis

Ready-to-hang: Includes hanging kit, ready to hang directly on the wall.
Frame Material: Durable pine wood.
Frame Measurements: 20-25mm (0.79"-0.98") thick, 10-14mm (0.4"-0.6") wide.
Paper Weight: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.22 mm (8.7 mils).
Paper Finishing: Matte, smooth, non-reflective surface.
Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the poster.
Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified materials or equivalent.

This is a Japanese woodblock print by the artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866–1942), a key figure in 20th-century Japanese art. The piece is from his masterful three-volume collection, Chō senshu (One Thousand Butterflies). The composition features five stylized butterflies seemingly floating in space against a soft, light-blue background. Sekka's design emphasizes bold, decorative patterns and a harmonious color palette of red, yellow, and white, rather than strict anatomical realism. The artwork is a perfect example of his modern take on the traditional Rinpa school of design.

Historical Tidbit

Kamisaka Sekka is considered the last great master of the Rinpa school, a decorative arts tradition dating back to the 17th century. What makes him so fascinating is that he brilliantly blended this classical Japanese style with the influence of Western Art Nouveau, which he encountered during a trip to Europe in 1901. He was inspired by how Art Nouveau integrated art into everyday life through design, a concept central to the Rinpa philosophy. This print of butterflies, therefore, is more than just a nature study; it's a bridge between centuries of Japanese tradition and early 20th-century European modernism, making Sekka a pioneer of modern Japanese graphic design.

Our sturdy wooden framed posters come ready to hang and are printed on heavyweight white matte paper with a smooth, luxurious finish—designed to stand the test of time: