Kōrin Hyakuzu - Sakai Hōitsu

A page from the Kōrin Hyakuzu, a woodblock print collection by Sakai Hōitsu documenting the works of Ogata Kōrin, featuring various traditional motifs.

This woodblock print originates from the Kōrin Hyakuzu, a collection compiled by the artist Sakai Hōitsu to document the works of Ogata Kōrin. Hōitsu, a central figure in the Edo period Rinpa school, dedicated much of his career to the study and preservation of Kōrin's aesthetic. This specific page displays a series of distinct motifs, including a tiger, a figure with a dog, a dragon, and a seated sage. Each subject is presented within a vertical frame, reflecting the structured layout of traditional Japanese book design.

The line work demonstrates the characteristic precision of the woodblock medium, with varying weights used to define the texture of the tiger's fur and the fluid, serpentine form of the dragon. The composition relies on a balance between negative space and the graphic weight of the figures. By compiling these sketches, Hōitsu sought to codify the visual language of his predecessor, ensuring that the stylistic innovations of the earlier Rinpa masters remained accessible to contemporary artists and collectors. The inclusion of small circular seals and calligraphic annotations provides context for each subject, typical of the scholarly approach Hōitsu took toward his archival project.

As a document of art history, this print offers insight into the transmission of style within the Japanese tradition. It captures the essence of the Rinpa school, which favoured decorative clarity and a refined approach to subject matter. The print is presented on paper that retains the character of the original publication, showing the subtle tonal variations inherent in historical woodblock printing. This piece is suitable for those interested in the history of Japanese graphic arts and the specific methodologies of the Edo period printmakers.