<b>PORTRAIT OF MY WIFE, TERUNO</b> / Unichi Hiratsuka1923$1,500</em>

Details

This charming portrait is of Unichi Hiratsuka’s wife, Teruno, produced in 1923. The artist immortalizes his beloved in an okubi-e, a traditional Japanese portrait format where the head and part of the bust is shown. She wears a stylish scarf and a somewhat frail downward cast expression. It’s important to note this portrait was done after the earthquake when most of Tokyo was destroyed by either the quake itself or the ensuing fires. This portrait may have signified a moment of contemplation after the trauma of such a catastrophe. The design may also speak more to Hiratsuka’s own direct experience with the aftermath, as he traveled extensively through the city surveying the destruction firsthand and documenting what he saw with his plein air sketches. Based on these works, Hiratsuka produced a series of prints showcasing the earthquake’s destructive toll on the city. No doubt this experience left an impression on the young artist as well.

Connoisseur's Note

As collectors will attest, Hiratsuka’s early work is quite rare. This particular impression was executed on early fibrous paper containing imperfections such as inclusions and an inconsistent thickness. This is the exact paper one would expect to find during the aftermath of the earthquake, when art supplies were scarce. Later impressions were executed on request from the artist when he lived in the U.S. Those impressions are printed on thick deluxe paper (made in Japan) that appears white. Those later impressions bear pencil signatures and at times come with a title and a spurious edition notation. In addition to being a charming design, this impression, offered for sale, is an important document to one of Japan’s most significant historical events in the modern era. The materials used and the subtle communication of the design add yet another layer of significance to an already important print in Hiratsuka’s body of work.