<b>THE LAST SUPPER</b> / Sadao Watanabe1978$2,500</em>

Details

Sadao Watanabe dedicated his entire career to producing prints illustrating the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Though the subjects of his prints may be familiar, Watanabe utilized his unique talent for stencil production combined with Japanese aesthetic sensibilities to create a new and compelling vision of these time-honored stories.

In this design, Watanabe presents his version of the Last Supper, recalling the masterful fresco by Leonardo da Vinci. Drawing upon the tradition da Vinci set forth, Watanabe’s scene is an intriguing mix of Japanese and Western aesthetics. The composition is oriented in a traditional Japanese perspective that is not wholly realistic—the figures in the background sit at eye level with the viewer while the remaining portion of the composition is situated below the viewer’s plane of sight, giving the impression of a slightly elevated vantage point.

Elements of the dinner reveal additional Japanese influences, such as the fish at the center of the table resembling Fugu, or Japanese pufferfish, and the smaller courses resembling sushi rolls. The plates are rendered in a mingei, or Japanese folk art, style. The figure at the end of the table facing Jesus, presumably Judas, is the only disciple whose face is not visible, and his robe reveals a Japanese money bag design, suggesting the payment Judas received for the betrayal of Christ. This striking composition is set against a rich red background, evoking the blood Christ shed only days after this event.

Connoisseur's Note

This design is one of Watanabe’s most successful large-scale stencil prints. This particular impression is especially desirable due to its pristine condition and vivid colors—a testament to its years of archival storage. It is quite rare to find large-scale work that has never been framed or displayed, sparing it the effects of improper framing and fading from sunlight exposure. This print is as fresh as the day it was printed.