<b>MADAME TALIA SAVANIEVA</b> / Chiura Obata1930$22,000</em>

Details

Chiura Obata, a Japanese-American artist known for his reverence for the American landscape and cultural traditions, offers viewers a captivating portrait in this print. Depicting Madame Talia Savanieva, who graced the stage of the San Francisco Opera House in September of 1924 in the iconic role of Madame Butterfly, Obata captures the essence of the celebrated diva. Madame Savanieva is portrayed with her hair elegantly upswept, adorned in a vibrant robe with ornate earrings, exuding an aura of grace and sophistication. Rendered in profile, her gaze directed towards the left of the viewer, Obata's depiction, though somewhat restrained, eloquently conveys the singer's beauty and stage presence. It is interesting to note that Obata produced the entire stage design for the opera in where Madame Talia Savanieva performed. Through his skilled hand and keen eye for detail, Obata invites viewers to glimpse the allure and artistry of a bygone era, immortalizing Madame Savanieva's contribution to the world of opera in this striking portrait.

Connoisseur's Note

The set comprises a suite of seven works: the hanshita (keyblock proof print), three signed trial impressions (each from different printings with color variations), a finalized version of the design (also signed), and two lithographic impressions printed on silk—one mounted to a shikishiban presentation board and the other mounted onto a scroll. The two works printed on silk are lithographs based on Obata’s design and were intended as advertising ephemera by Takamizawa to bolster the sale of the design. All the works are in excellent condition. This suite is a treasure for any collector or institution.