This shikishi print features the artwork 《紅白椿》 (Red and White Camellias) by the celebrated Japanese painter 安田靫彦 (Yasuda Yukihiko, 1884–1978). Created in Shōwa 33 (1958), this piece exemplifies Yasuda’s mastery of Nihonga (日本画) — the traditional Japanese painting style rooted in elegance, restraint, and spiritual clarity.
Depicted against a soft golden background, the white and red camellias (椿, tsubaki) stand as a serene symbol of purity and vitality. The artist’s delicate gradation of color and graceful linework imbue the flowers with a quiet dignity, while the muted composition radiates harmony and balance. Yasuda’s refined minimalism reflects both the beauty of nature and the Japanese ideal of yūgen, a subtle, profound grace beyond words.
The camellia, long cherished in Japanese art and culture, carries deep meaning. The white camellia represents purity and humility, while the red camellia symbolizes passion and life. Together, they evoke the coexistence of calm and energy, serenity and strength — a poetic contrast that resonates deeply with the aesthetics of traditional Japan.
As one of the leading figures of modern Nihonga, Yasuda Yukihiko was renowned for revitalizing classical Japanese art forms with contemporary sensitivity. His works, celebrated for their simplicity and spiritual depth, continue to inspire appreciation for Japan’s timeless natural beauty and cultural refinement.
Size: 24 x 27cm
