Humorous Designs 1903

photo of handprinted image

toned paper

pasteup

muted colour palette

ink paper printed

book

japan

paste-up

carved into stone

spray can art

marker colouring

watercolor

"Humorous Designs" is a collection of prints by Japanese artist Kamisaka Sekka, created in 1903. The cover of this album features a large, circular red sun with a humorous figure rendered in black. The image is a playful and whimsical representation of Japanese graphic art, showcasing Sekka's talent for creating humorous and engaging designs. The album is a testament to his artistic vision and his mastery of traditional Japanese printmaking techniques.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This collection of 46 designs was assembled by Kamisaka Sekka in the year after he returned to Japan from studying contemporary European approaches to arts and crafts. These designs reveal European influences and show his ability to play with images from several cultures. In contrast to his other design collections, the themes here are diverse. They consist of motifs derived from traditional Asian art, such as zodiac animals, and themes of Western origin, like Art Deco vases. In his introduction to the compilation, Sekka refers to his work as more “jokes” than art, and points out that he has created them lightheartedly.