In its latest homage to Asian art, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai ‘Amida Falls’, honouring the work of the 19th-century Japanese master, Katsushika Hokusai.
The case-back of the new timepiece is decorated with a hand- enamelled miniature reproduction of “The Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaidō Road”, the best-known work from “A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces,” a series of eight woodblock prints created by the artist in 1833–34.
The new Reverso continues the dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions that La Grande Maison has embraced throughout its history. Complementing the exquisite tribute to the Asian art form of woodblock printing on the case-back, the dial is anchored in the Western craft traditions of guillochage and Grand Feu enamel.
To capture the power of Hokusai’s original image and faithfully reproduce every detail on a surface of just three square centimetres, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master artisans had to not only miniaturise and perfectly mimic every detail of the composition but also create the illusion of the woodblock printing technique.
To achieve this, the enamellers had to develop a special technique that reproduces the characteristic bokashi effect of the subtly nuanced and graduated colours of works originally printed on paper, while also capturing the vivid blues and yellows that are a signature of Hokusai’s work.
With its faceted appliqué hour-markers and Dauphine hands, places full value on the beauty of its decoration. Complementing the miniature painting on the case back, this dial is decorated with a guilloché lozenge pattern, the texture of which is amplified by translucent Grand Feu enamel in a rich shade of green.
Testament to the exceptional artistry and skill of the artisans working in the Manufacturer’s Métiers Rares atelier, the new Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai ‘Amida Falls’ epitomises La Grande Maison’s vision of the world of art and culture.
