<b>YOUNG GIRL</b>Hirano Hakuho1936$3,500</em>
ARTIST: Hirano Hakuho (1879-1957)
TITLE: Young Girl
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1936
DIMENSIONS: 16 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Hamanaka, Shinji, Amy Reigle Newland, The Female Image, 20th Century Japanese Prints of Beauties, 2000, pl. 211
.
$3,500.00
.
ARTIST: Hirano Hakuho (1879-1957)
TITLE: Young Girl
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1936
DIMENSIONS: 16 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Hamanaka, Shinji, Amy Reigle Newland, The Female Image, 20th Century Japanese Prints of Beauties, 2000, pl. 211
.
$3,500.00
.
ARTIST: Hirano Hakuho (1879-1957)
TITLE: Young Girl
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1936
DIMENSIONS: 16 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Hamanaka, Shinji, Amy Reigle Newland, The Female Image, 20th Century Japanese Prints of Beauties, 2000, pl. 211
.
$3,500.00
.
Details
Very little is known about Hirano Hakuhu, who was a nihonga (Japanese-style) painter and print artist who produced a handful of designs. Of the small group of prints in his oeuvre, this design is among his best works.
The youth of this woman’s appearance is echoed throughout this clever composition. The soft, unblemished yellow background suggests her naiveté, while the various textiles of the girl’s kimono and pillow suggest a youthful exuberance. Of particular note is the blossom pattern in the young figure’s outer kimono. The flowers seem to burst into bloom and simultaneously float away along the current of seams. The stunning elegance of the girl’s robes is counterbalanced by the child-like posture she holds within them, as her right hand and right foot slightly protrude out from their confines, suggesting they are a size or two too large.
Connoisseur's Note
This impression was printed by the illustrious shin hanga publisher Shozaburo Watanabe. This design is one of a handful of prints produced by Hakuho for this publisher. The print is an early impression, as the careful and subtle printing of the design suggests. This work is in an extraordinary state of preservation, making it a true time capsule. It was never framed or displayed and was stored in archival boxes. Prints in this pristine condition seldom come up for sale. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to own a stunning Hakuho design with fresh and vivid colors in its original state.
