Hydrangeas and Butterflies – Shin Bijutsukai Japanese Pattern Print

Hydrangea blossoms and butterflies form a lush decorative pattern that captures the richness of early summer in Japanese design.

This design originates from Shin Bijutsukai (新美術海), an influential Japanese design series published in Kyoto between 1902 and around 1906 during the Meiji period. The series presents a wide range of decorative patterns created using multicolour woodblock printing, reflecting the development of modern Japanese design in the early twentieth century.

Nature-inspired motifs such as flowers, birds, waves, and seasonal imagery were central to the decorative language of the Rinpa school, a Japanese artistic tradition known for its elegant stylization and rhythmic compositions. Some designs in Shin Bijutsukai also reflect contemporary international decorative design influences that circulated widely at the time.

Today, the patterns from Shin Bijutsukai are appreciated as important examples of Japanese decorative design from the Meiji era and continue to inspire artists, designers, and collectors around the world.

This print is produced on 290 gsm Bamboo Fine Art paper, featuring a warm natural white tone and a softly textured surface that gives the print an elegant and refined finish.