Narumi stofpatronen 1883

These are three pattern books or "Narumi Stofpatronen" by Odagiri Shunko, held at the Rijksmuseum. The books are defined by their soft, muted tones and a minimalist yet deliberate arrangement of text and image. The covers employ a restrained palette. A light beige field, reminiscent of aged paper, serves as a backdrop for dark grey, stylized birds. These are sparsely scattered, creating a visual rhythm that is both subtle and engaging. Each book’s spine is marked with vertical columns of Japanese characters, lending a structural elegance. These columns are meticulously aligned and seemingly ordered. The texture of the covers is tactile. This gives the artwork a sense of depth and history. Ultimately, it is this careful balance between the planned and the incidental, the textual and the visual, that defines the aesthetic of the books, inviting continuous inspection.