Two Iris

Two iris — the blue flag iris (kakitsubata) or the yellow iris (kiko) — rendered with the careful botanical attention that the kacho-e (bird-and-flower) tradition demanded. Iris in Japanese art carries strong seasonal association with early summer and the transition from spring, its upright form and complex flower providing rich formal material for the printmaker. Asada Benji's two-iris composition balances the flowers' vertical energy against a spare ground, allowing each bloom to demonstrate its distinct character.