Hemp-leaf Pattern

Hemp-leaf Pattern (Asa-no-ha), a 1913 color woodblock, takes as its subject one of the most recognizable geometric patterns in Japanese textile design. The interlocking star-shaped motif, based on the structure of hemp leaves, has been used on fabric, paper, and architecture for centuries. Tobari's decision to make a traditional pattern the subject of a sosaku-hanga print creates an interesting tension between old and new: ancient design rendered through a movement that championed artistic individuality and personal expression. The color woodblock allows the pattern to develop its characteristic visual rhythm, each repetition slightly different because of the hand-printing process.