Cho senshu
by SEKKA, Kamisaka
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1908. SEKKA, Kamisaka. Cho senshu. 2 volumes, each with 25 double-page plates of coloured woodcuts depicting butterflies by Sekka. 8vo, 248 x 178 mm. folded, bound accordion-style (orihon) in green silk over boards, in a new green cloth box. Kyoto: Yamada Unsodo, 1903. A fine copy of the first printing of this landmark of twentieth century Japanese design. "Kamisaka Sekka was a genius; effortlessly, prodigiously, boundlessly imaginative; tirelessly inventive, spontaneous, and free. In One Thousand Butterflies (Cho senrui, 1903 [the book is commonly misdated; it was published in 1904]) he took a single subject and drew dozens of pictures, each in a different style. There was nothing academic about his approach. Each drawing was fresh and new; many were arresting and some mirrored new developments in European art. "Sekka loved design. He began to paint under Suzuki Zuigai when he was sixteen and studied textiles in his early twenties. He was doubly fortunate that Yamada Naosaburo, the most ambitious, original and enterprising publisher of the early twentieth century, recognized Sekka's genius and gave him the freedom and support he needed to bring into the world his protean vision of art fused with life." (Keyes). "A colour-printed book of elaborate decor based on the forms of butterflies. All the designs are 'patterned,' but some conform to the actual shape and markings of believable butterflies, though there is certainly no intention to be entomologically accurate; but in some, the artist simply used the insects as a theme for variations, distorting and manipulating the butterfly shape until it is barely recognizable, often achieving the kind of art nouveau that we associate with some Secession jewelry . . . Sekka is especially inventive when he allows swarms of butterflies to float over the page, achieving colourful geometric diagrams, or, in one, amorphous silver shape outlined in brown, green and yellow, as evocative and irrational as abstracts by Arp", (Hillier). Wear to the fragile corners, but nevertheless a fine set. Vol.1, 1908 (Meiji 41) printed in colophon page. Vol. 2, 1903 (Meiji 36) 2nd printing of the first edition according to the colophon page. Hillier, The Art of the Japanese Book p. 976. Keyes, Ehon. The Artist and the Book in Japan, p. 240.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ursus Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 171525
- Title
- Cho senshu
- Author
- SEKKA, Kamisaka
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Date Published
- 1908
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Ursus Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Ursus Books
Biblio member since 2007
New York, New York
About Ursus Books
Ursus Rare Books is renowned throughout the rare book world for handling outstanding copies of important rare books. Our inventory ranges from early printed books to modern livres d'artistes. Our particular strength is in illustrated books of all periods; from the 15th to 21st centuries. We also carry fine copies of literature in all languages, art and architecture, natural history, voyages and travels, landscape gardening and fine bindings. Ursus is dedicated to developing long term relationships with clients in helping them to form first class collections.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Colophon
- The colophon contains information about a book's publisher, the typesetting, printer, and possibly even includes a printer's...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...