<b>SUMMER</b> / Koshiro Onchi1930$20,000</em>

Details

A moga, or a modern, liberalized woman, is making the final adjustments to her well-coiffed hair. Though nude, her skin tone is symbolic, as she is dressed in the green of summer. The brushstrokes throughout her hair and body suggest movement as if the vitality of summer ambles about, inhabiting this modern female form.

This striking watercolor is the original preparatory work for the finalized woodblock print design of “Summer” from the second state “Japanese” version of Onchi’s Shiki (Four Seasons) set. See the image below. Initially produced in 1927, the series originally contained both French and Japanese text above each female figure who represented a respective season of the year. In 1930, Onchi issued a reworked version of the series, which omitted the French. In so doing, Onchi readjusted the cartouches that contained the Japanese text to better balance the composition. This watercolor was used as a working study for the retooling of the composition to make the necessary changes to the Japanese cartouche.

Connoisseur's Note

Moga, shortened for modan garu, or modern girls, were known for their highly individualistic sense of style and independence. From the 1920s into the 1930s, women began asserting themselves beyond the traditional strict gender roles. Younger women parted ways with their parents and moved into larger cities, such as Tokyo, eager to work and support their independent lifestyle. These moga were often seen sporting a bob haircut or long hair fashioned into a knot at the nape of the neck that would mimic the bob, as is the case with this design.

This watercolor work is tipped onto its original backing. The piece has some minor wrinkling at the top portion but is otherwise in fine condition.

Original paintings by Onchi are exceedingly rare and even less commonly seen in the market space. This is an exceptional opportunity to own an original study of one of Onchi’s most celebrated print designs. Tetsuo Miki, a Sosaku Hanga expert and co-author of the last two Onchi catalog raisonne references, examined this piece and confirmed the work was produced by Onchi's own hand.