Dr. Shinobu Ishihara
Invented and hand painted by Dr. Shinobu Ishihara, the 38 watercolor plates of the Ishihara colour blindness test were first published internationally in 1917.
Dr. Ishihara was born in Tokyo in 1879, completed graduate studies in ophthalmology then served a distinguished career as a military doctor. Initially developing his colour blindness tests for the army, he went on to promote their publication around the world, supervising production and striving for the highest standards in printing and colour accuracy.
He lived a modest life, uninterested in material possessions and eventually retired to a small countryside town where he continued working as a doctor, donating most of his earnings to the local community. Since his death in 1963, he has been venerated as a significant contributor to Japanese culture.
I had been drawn to the elegance and mystery of his work since seeing the tests as a schoolboy, so when I came across an antique copy of the plates I knew I had found a treasure which has fascinated and inspired me since. It is my sincere hope that these paintings pay homage to Dr. Ishihara and his visionary aesthetic.
All images of artwork on this website are the intellectual property of Graham Scott Park and may not be reproduced without prior written permission.