<b>RETURN TO EARTH</b> / Ryohei Tanaka1993<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Tanaka is known for his spellbinding, intricate landscapes that usher the viewer into a world of nature and magic. The minute detail the artist is able to achieve within his designs is astonishing. He conjures an entire cosmos within the confines of a sheet of paper. In this striking night scene, moonlight exposes an old traditional wooden structure with a thatched roof that is slowly being reclaimed by the elements. The artist provides incredible life-like detail throughout this etching. The structure has partially collapsed on itself: the numerous voids in the roof reveal the inner support, while the height of the late fall grass partially obscures the structure. It astonishes how Tanaka renders all the various materials and surfaces in life-like realism. Of particular note is the work done to show the individual strands of grass at the lower portion of the design as well as the aging organic material of the thatched roof. Beyond the dynamic detail, the artist evokes a poetic sensibility: in the quiet austere night, the elements are slowing reclaiming the natural materials fashioned temporarily by man, making them their own once again.

Connoisseur's Note

Tanaka passed away in October of 2019. He was a prolific artist, and his striking designs have continued to grow in popularity. Based on their beauty and labor-intensive quality, there is little doubt their desirability will continue to grow.