All Images Are Courtesy of Stephan Julliard

The natural beauty and rhythmic changing seasons of Japan have captivated artists for centuries, and during the prosperous Edo period – one of the great ages of Japanese painting – exuberant styles of artistic expression flourished. Upon the era’s famed byōbu, stylized scenes of land, sea, and sky came alive through vivid brushstrokes and layers of rich color. This rich history and these singular works of art inspired the Byōbu Collection, de Gournay’s latest collection which has launched at the 2024 edition of Paris Déco Off. It incorporates many of the innovative techniques that developed during the Edo period as the company’s own artists pay homage to the dynamic spirit of the original references while unveiling as well a distinctive interpretation to chime within contemporary settings.

This celebration of Japan’s flora and fauna and the fleeting evanescence of nature elegantly unfolds over ten exquisitely hand-painted and hand-embroidered designs. And to fully immerse us in the story of the Byōbu Collection, de Gournay’s Paris apartment has been dramatically transformed to transport viewers on an enchanting journey through Japan’s ephemeral changing of the seasons. Elegantly designed to pay homage to the eclectic international style of the 20th-century design firm Maison Jansen, skillfully marrying European artistry with Anglo-Japonisme and Art Deco influences, it’s more of a journey into a world of pure art.