(Iga plate c. 20th century

This Iga plate was made in Japan by Kitaōji Rosanjin, who lived from 1883 to 1959. Rosanjin was known for his calligraphy, seal carving, and ceramics. The Iga style emerged in the 16th century, during a period of intense social upheaval and the rise of the merchant class. With its emphasis on naturalness and asymmetry, the Iga style can be understood as a reaction against the rigid formality of earlier aristocratic art forms. Its imperfections and spontaneity celebrated the beauty of wabi-sabi, a world view accepting transience and imperfection. Rosanjin was associated with the mingei movement, celebrating folk art. He elevated the everyday to the realm of high art, challenging traditional hierarchies within the art world. The study of Rosanjin's life and work is essential to understanding the complex interplay between art, commerce, and cultural identity in 20th-century Japan. Researching into publications from that time, one can find how this piece defies the norms.