Lotus flowers rise on their stems in this hand-coloured plant study from the Tokyo studio of Ogawa Kazumasa (1860–1929), a Meiji-era photographer and printer. Ogawa was a pioneer of the collotype in Japan, and his flower plates pair the precision of the camera with delicate watercolour by hand. The result records the lotus with both clarity and softness.
This is not a woodblock but a hand-coloured collotype, a photographic print finished by hand with watercolour. The fine tonal detail comes from the photographic plate, while the colour is laid on lightly, so the petals keep their translucence. It is a different craft from the carved print, with its own quiet exactness.
On a wall the image is light and airy. In Buddhist tradition the lotus rises clean from muddy water and stands for purity and rebirth, a long theme in temple art and poetry, which gives the print a calm resonance. Its pale palette rests well against pale walls and natural materials, in a bedroom, . . . Read More >>
Lotus flowers rise on their stems in this hand-coloured plant study from the Tokyo studio of Ogawa Kazumasa (1860–1929), a Meiji-era photographer and printer. Ogawa was a pioneer of the collotype in Japan, and his flower plates pair the precision of the camera with delicate watercolour by hand. The result records the lotus with both clarity and softness.
This is not a woodblock but a hand-coloured collotype, a photographic print finished by hand with watercolour. The fine tonal detail comes from the photographic plate, while the colour is laid on lightly, so the petals keep their translucence. It is a different craft from the carved print, with its own quiet exactness.
On a wall the image is light and airy. In Buddhist tradition the lotus rises clean from muddy water and stands for purity and rebirth, a long theme in temple art and poetry, which gives the print a calm resonance. Its pale palette rests well against pale walls and natural materials, in a bedroom, a bathroom, or a hallway.
This is a gallery-style edition. On fine-art paper and framed prints, a wide printed border surrounds the image in the manner of a museum mat, holding the same proportion whether the sheet is small or large. The canvas edition is stretched over a solid wooden frame instead, and hangs without a border or additional framing. Each version is produced in Europe to order.
Frequently asked questions
What does this print show?
A study of lotus flowers reproduced from a hand-coloured plant study made in the Tokyo studio of Ogawa Kazumasa.
Is this a woodblock print?
No. It is a hand-coloured collotype, a photographic print finished by hand with watercolour, not a carved woodblock.
What does the lotus symbolise?
In Buddhist tradition the lotus rises clean from muddy water and stands for purity and rebirth, a long-standing theme in temple art and poetry.
Where does this print look best?
In quiet, airy rooms such as a bedroom, bathroom or hallway, where its light palette can rest against pale walls and natural materials.
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Japan historical period: Meiji 明治 (1868-1912)
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