Japanese Archival Note Card, Cattleya Gatton Ruby Alba Var. Oyamazaki by Ikeda Zuigetsu: Ranka-Fu Orchid Series

A white bloom with a magenta lip sits inside a halo of soft turquoise wash.

This archival note card of the orchid Cattleya Gatton Ruby Alba var. Oyamazaki from the Ranka-Fu orchid series is from Japan. Orchid portraits of this kind belong to a long tradition of botanical illustration, in which growers and artists recorded named hybrids and varieties by their flowers. One cream-white flower with a deep magenta and gold throat rests above two long dark green leaves. A cloud of aqua tint blooms behind it on a pale yellow ground, fading toward the edges of the print. It is 5 inches long and 7 high.

A small bloom with a very good backdrop.