I was asked to design the exhibition catalog on Shibata Zeshin (the revolutionary Japanese painter/lacquerer of the late Edo period/early Meiji era, XIXth century). He distinguished himself through his ink-paintings on silk, creating trompe-l’œil effects, and also invented the style of painting using coloured lacquer on paper.

The book had to reflect the painter ability to be both innovative and aware of the tradition, elegant. Therefore I set up a graphic system within each page look different from the other one. The text position is not fix as well as the page number and running title while giving a elegant feel to the book.
Taking great care to the book cover fabrication I wanted it to remind the reader of lacquered box. While looking very simple this book is designed to “work its subject”…

This is the exhibition catalog on Shibata Zeshin the revolutionary Japanese painter/lacquerer. The book reflects the painter innovative, traditionnal, elegant style. The graphic system gives each page a different look from the other one: text, page numbers, running title move in the page giving a elegant feel to the book. Wide gutters distinguish the justified texts put in page in such a way that it reminds of the Japanese painting scrolls presented. Its cover «fabrication» gives the look of a lacquered box to the book.