Seiei: A Design Book 1907

This design book, by Yamada Chosaburō, uses cut paper on a blue ground to create these vibrant designs. The flat planes of color and simplified forms show that artmaking is really just a series of decisions. The piece is made up of cut paper applied to the blue background, the textures are smooth with a slightly matte finish which flattens the image and gives it a graphic punch. Take for example the floral form in the bottom right, the ochre color is so warm against the blue ground, and the dark lines create a graphic image. The same is true of the frieze-like rendering of figures in the top section, their red robes popping against the black backdrop. These collage elements give the work a sense of both layering and flatness at the same time. You could compare this work to that of Matisse and his cut paper works, but perhaps the bold colours and decorative forms here are unique in their own right. Ultimately, art is about exchange, inspiration, and conversation between artists through time.