<b>NANBANESQUE BEHAVIOR</b> / Sumio Kawakami1955<B>SOLD</B></em>

Details

Sumio Kawakami’s interest in everything foreign started as a young child during the Meiji period. Kawakami recounts to Oliver Statler in his book Modern Japanese Prints how the artist grew up in a time when East truly met West. A period when it was commonplace to see men clad in kimonos while sporting a derby or bowler hat and cane. It was also during this time that Japan imported all kinds of Western objects. Globes, telescopes, glasses, pipes, maps, books, prints, and a myriad of other things caught the imagination of the young Kawakami, so much so he dedicated his entire artistic career to portraying what he first saw in his youth.

In this iconic Sosaku Hanga image, we have a Japanese prostitute with a Dutch client smoking a Western pipe while reclining on a Western-style bed. The title, Nanbanesque Behavior, refers to nanban (foreign) elements highlighted in the print. The design is bold, expressive, and daring and quickly became a battle flag for the Sosaku Hanga movement. The print itself was done with one printing block—the black portion of the design. All elements of color were applied directly to the print by the artist’s hand. The colors and the manner in which they are applied differ from each impression.

Connoisseur's Note

This striking impression is in excellent condition with pristine colors. The pigmentation of the design, as well as the bold yellow background, is known to be susceptible to fading if improper framing materials are used. This impression boats untouched colors, suggesting the work was never framed or displayed for extended periods of time.