Peony print from the Kokinshu waka scroll

Koetsu particularly favored paper with stenciled patterns created using woodblocks. Several of his works remain, featuring bold designs of bamboo, plum blossoms, autumn grasses, and butterflies, including one used in the "Ryūdatsu-bushi Scroll" (1605). Koetsu's brushwork, featuring ample ink and clear variations in shade, appears to have been meticulously studied in the ancient calligraphy of the Heian period. His kanji characters appear to be influenced by the powerful, tansho style of the Chinese master Zhang Xu (1186-1258). However, his unparalleled sophistication, always mindful of the balance between the paper and his calligraphy style, is unparalleled. This scroll features 10 autumn poems from the "Shin Kokin Wakashū" (New Collection of Poetry) scattered across paper with a mica-printed peony design. The sketch is simply a sakuyaku (a type of medicine), with few plates and a simple arrangement, and here Koetsu's calligraphy style is different from his later works, with elegant characters that are not thick or thin. It is thought to precede his works with gorgeous sketches, such as gold and silver ink paintings and gold and silver ink printing. At the end of the scroll is stamped the black seal of "Koetsu" and on the back of the page, where the paper is joined, the seal of "Paper Maker Soji" can be seen.