Katagami: Water Pattern, late 19^th-early 20^th century. Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of Helen Snyder. 1976-103-111. Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution.

Intricately carved into numerous layers of Japanese mulberry paper,  joined together with fermented persimmon juice, katagami, a Japanese paper-stencil dying technique popular in the Edo and Meiji period, were deeply influential in late 19^th and early 20^th century Western art and design.  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s holdings of nearly 400 katagami represent one of the most significant collections outside of Japan. 

In a rare visit to the United States, katagami master Masao Aida, with the assistance of Airo Aida and Isao Uchida, will demonstrate the unique craft of cutting and printing katagami.

This program is organized by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and Mie Prefectural Art Museum, supported by the Pola Art Foundation.