The Artist

Kamisaka Sekka

Japanese · 1866 - 1942 · Rinpa

Kamisaka Sekka brought the centuries-old Rinpa decorative tradition into the 20th century — flat color, lyrical pattern, the design sense that influenced Art Deco and modern graphic art. His prints distill seasonal motifs (irises, plum blossoms, waves, fans) into compositions that read as both ancient and graphic. Few public-domain artists carry as cleanly into a contemporary interior.