Charcoal Kilns late 18th - early 19th century

This is a fragment of calligraphy on decorative paper, made by Takabe Sōchō in Japan sometime before 1814. The abstract pattern you see is called *suminagashi*, or "floating ink." It’s achieved by carefully dripping ink onto the surface of water, then disturbing the liquid to create a swirling design. Paper is then laid on the surface to pick up the pattern. *Suminagashi* is an ancient technique, but it was particularly popular in Japan, with each workshop developing its own secret methods. Here, the *suminagashi* pattern serves as the ground for brushed characters. Calligraphy is elevated to an art form in Japan, with practitioners training for years to achieve mastery of the brush. In this case, the writing celebrates the labor of those who produce charcoal. The design is a perfect complement to the text, with both pattern and text created using natural materials and practiced skill.