Naturalist Plate of Blue and Green Butterflies - Kamisaka Sekka (1903)

This reproduction highlights a plate from the work Chō senshu, published in 1903 by the artist Kamisaka Sekka. The illustration presents three butterflies with bordered bodies and wings marked by shades of blue, green, and black on a beige background. The precision of the outlines and the distribution of pigments offer a clear and orderly vision of these stylized specimens, typical of the naturalist approach of the Kyoto school.

Anchored in the Rimpa movement, this work by Sekka combines naturalist observation with ornamental research. The collection "A Thousand Varieties of Butterflies" is a major testimony to the revival of the Japanese print at the dawn of the 20th century. The approach favors visual balance and the strength of the line, transforming the entomological subject into a timeless and structured decorative motif.

Intended for amateurs of Japanese prints and botany, this illustration provides historical testimony on the graphic art of the Meiji era. Its sober structure and colorful contrasts lend themselves to careful visual study or wall decorative installation.