Schetsen van bloemen en vogels van Seitei - deel twee 1890

Watanabe Seitei made this book of sketches around the turn of the 20th century, likely using paper and ink. The materiality of this work is evident in the thinness of the paper, which allows for the subtle impression of flowers and birds to show through. The artist has used the inherent qualities of ink to create a range of tones, from the deep blacks of the calligraphy to the light greys of the floral silhouettes. Considered a master of the *kachōga* genre, Watanabe Seitei would have undergone years of training to master the techniques evident here. The book form itself has cultural significance, reflecting a tradition of scholarship and artistic practice. The simple binding, the visible stitching, speaks to the amount of labor involved in its production, each step a testament to skill and dedication. Paying attention to these material elements allows us to appreciate the cultural richness of the object, challenging any simple distinction between art and craft.