Artwork
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Puppies (Enokoro)
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Puppies (Enokoro) is a drawing by Kamisaka Sekka. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The puppies have soft fur and bright eyes, like they’re about to tumble over each other.
This painting shows three fluffy puppies playing near pink and white flowers. The flowers look like they’re floating on a plain white background. The puppies have soft fur and bright eyes, like they’re about to tumble over each other.
Sekka made loose sketches first on tracing paper. The final print is much tighter and detailed. The Meiji period loved bold, simple designs like this.
See how the colors pop against the white? It’s almost like a stencil. Look up Kamisaka Sekka (Japanese, 1866–1942) to find more of his work.
Overview
Kamisaka Sekka’s drawing, part of his preparatory work for the Flowers of a Hundred Worlds series, depicts three small dogs amid pink and white blossoms set against an unadorned white field. The composition is rendered in ink and color on tracing paper, presenting a light, spontaneous arrangement that anticipates a more finished print.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures three fluffy puppies in playful interaction, their bright eyes and soft fur suggesting movement and curiosity. The surrounding blossoms, rendered in delicate pink and white tones, create a gentle contrast that emphasizes the animals’ liveliness while evoking a sense of natural harmony.
Technique & Style
Sekka employed a freehand approach on tracing paper, using ink lines complemented by washes of color. This preliminary sketch is markedly looser than the later printed versions, which feature tighter outlines and richer detail. The simplicity of the design reflects the Meiji era’s preference for bold, uncluttered visual statements.
Context
Created during Japan’s Meiji period (1868–1912), the drawing aligns with contemporary artistic trends that favored clear, graphic compositions. Sekka’s work bridges traditional Japanese motifs with emerging modern aesthetics, illustrating the transitional spirit of the time while contributing to the broader Flowers of a Hundred Worlds project.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Kamisaka Sekka (神坂 雪佳; 1866–1942) was an important artistic figure in early twentieth-century Japan.
Bugaku Dancer
Bugaku Dancer
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Dancing (Odori)
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Spring Field (Haru no tanomo)
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Chrysanthemum Boy (Kikujidō)
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Flower-draped Carts
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Shibaraku (Shibaraku)
Flowers of a Hundred Worlds (Momoyogusa): Oxherd (Bokudo)
