Handmade Japanese linocut of Daruma in blue

This blue linocut celebrates the playful entanglement of daruma, the charming good-luck figurines beloved in Japan. Daruma are figurines representing a Buddhist monk with closed eyes. They are reputed to bring good luck and are often acquired by those who make a wish. Traditionally, one eye is painted on the daruma when making a wish, and the other once the wish has been granted, before the figurine is returned or burned in the temple of origin.

This linocut illustrates a complex and captivating tangle of daruma, offering a unique perspective on these traditional good-luck charms. In some Japanese temples, such as Shorinzan Daruma-ji or Katsuo-ji, you can see a large number of daruma scattered all over the place, creating a mystical and sacred atmosphere.

As a passionate collector of daruma in all their forms, I wanted to express my love for these figurines by staging them in an original and captivating way, offering a fresh and playful vision of these traditional good-luck charms.