The Surface of the Water (Mizu no omo shū)
The Surface of the Water (Mizu no omo shū) is a Japanese illustrated poetry book by Komatsubara Suikei, published in 1831 and made for readers of Edo-period verse. Its double-page spreads pair columns of calligraphic poems with painted scenes of courtly figures in landscapes, gardens and rain. The pictures show soft washes of grey, green and rust with fine ink outlines, a useful model for designers wanting quiet, spare narrative compositions with generous white space and a restrained palette.
