God of Thunder (Raijin) - Kamisaka Sekka

A striking woodblock print of Raijin, the Japanese god of thunder, by the Rinpa master Kamisaka Sekka from his 1909-1910 series, Momoyogusa.

This woodblock print originates from the collection titled Momoyogusa, or Flowers of a Hundred Worlds, published between 1909 and 1910. Kamisaka Sekka, a figure associated with the revival of the Rinpa school in the early twentieth century, demonstrates his mastery of simplified form and bold colour application in this depiction of Raijin, the Shinto deity of thunder and lightning. Raijin is shown in a dynamic posture, his green skin contrasting against the pale, neutral background. He holds the characteristic drums used to create thunder, while his expression and posture convey a sense of raw, elemental power. The artist employs a calligraphic line quality, which defines the deity's muscular form and flowing hair with economy and precision. The composition is intentionally flat, a hallmark of the Rinpa aesthetic, which prioritises decorative impact over three-dimensional realism. Sekka was instrumental in bridging traditional Japanese design with modern sensibilities. His work for the Momoyogusa series was intended to bring the aesthetic principles of the Edo period into the contemporary era. By stripping away unnecessary detail, he allows the viewer to focus on the essential character of the subject. The use of colour is deliberate, with the green of the figure and the blue of his garments providing a clear visual hierarchy against the cream-toned paper. This print is an example of how Sekka reinterpreted classical motifs, such as the thunder god, through a lens that favoured graphic clarity and balanced design. It remains a representative piece of his contribution to the modernisation of Japanese decorative arts.