by Insho Domoto
"Chinese bell flower" is a shin-hanga nature study by Insho Domoto, created during the Taisho-Showa. This work belongs to the kacho-e (bird-and-flower) tradition, one of the most celebrated genres in Japanese art.
Insho Domoto brings characteristic sensitivity to this naturalistic subject, combining precise observation with poetic atmosphere. The composition balances the living subjects with their environment, creating a scene that feels both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant.
The technical execution reveals the sophisticated printmaking tradition behind this image — from the precise registration of multiple color blocks to the subtle gradations that give depth and luminosity to the natural subjects.
This print represents Insho Domoto's contribution to the shin-hanga tradition during the Taisho-Showa. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
early Shôwa period (1926–1989), 1926/35
Silk, plain weave; stenciled and resist dyed (yûzenzome: ita-age, suri yûzenzome, otoshizome and shigokizome)
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Chinese bell flower was created by Insho Domoto (堂本印象).
Chinese bell flower depicts birds & flowers.
