<b>OBI</b> / Koshiro Onchi1930<B>SOLD</B></em>

Details

This composition from 1930 is a representational figurative work Koshiro Onchi produced to gain greater acceptance of the Sosaku Hanga movement, as abstraction, his preferred mode of working, was not widely accepted in Japan during this time. Though Onchi was more interested in abstraction, this design suggests otherwise. Featured in this print is a moga (sporting a shortened hairstyle) gazing downward while gracefully displaying her checkerboard obi for the viewer’s admiration.

The composition's format is both asymmetrical and cropped, showcasing Onchi's daring and innovative approach to composition. This unique presentation advances the figure toward the viewer, a departure from the conventional style seen in Japanese prints of that period. Onchi's active involvement in the printing process is evident, imbuing the surface with a spontaneous, wet-like quality characteristic of his most sought-after self-printed works.

Connoisseur's Note

Onchi held the conviction that the essence of printmaking lay in its role as a creative process rather than a mere means of duplication. He perceived each print as a chance to convey his emotional state during the act of creation, rejecting the notion of producing uniform printed works. This impression is a rare variant. It incorporates an additional active gray printing block in the background, a distinctive feature absent in other impressions. This supplementary block significantly enhances the overall atmosphere and dynamism of the composition.

This print remains exceptionally well-preserved, maintaining an excellent state. The sharpness of the impression and the vibrancy of the colors endure, reflecting the quality of the day they were originally printed.