Plate of Butterflies with Hatched Patterns by Kamisaka Sekka

This reproduction of an engraving by Kamisaka Sekka presents a series of butterflies with wings adorned with hatched and cross-hatched patterns. The plate is distinguished by its chromatic palette blending shades of purple, green, blue, and yellow on a neutral background. The graphic treatment of the insects favors a decorative approach where visual texture and the repetition of geometric shapes take precedence over pure naturalist realism.

The original work comes from the collection Chō senshu (One Thousand Varieties of Butterflies), published in Japan in 1903. As a central artist of the modern Rimpa school, Sekka explores here the synthesis between the observation of nature and traditional ornamental aesthetics. The flat areas of color and the precision of the lines bear witness to the technical expertise of the Meiji era master engravers.

This antique illustration can be studied for its semantic richness or integrated into a decorative ensemble. As a reproduction of a historical document, it offers visual testimony to the evolution of Japanese graphic design at the beginning of the 20th century. Its balanced composition allows for detailed observation of the complex patterns that characterize each specimen.