Japanese Noren - Sumi-e Orchid

Japanese noren with an orchid design in ink, sumi-e style, 85 x 150 cm, made in Japan

Sumi-e is an ink painting technique that uses only black ink and water: it is all about dilution, ranging from a barely visible grey to pure black, and the white space left untouched is just as important as the line itself. The orchid is a classic subject for learning this technique, as its long stem can be drawn in a single stroke, while the ink leaves no room for error in the shading of its petals. This noren borrows that style, in shades of grey enhanced by a few touches of bright yellow on the flowers’ pistils. An elegant, refined and minimalist noren that will create a soft and luxurious partition between the different areas of your home.

To split your noren into two panels, simply cut along the dotted line down the centre with a pair of scissors. The fabric won’t fray, and you can choose how high the opening goes.