<b>BILLOWING SMOKE FROM STRUCTURE</b> / Tomoo Inagaki1923<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a catastrophic event in Japanese history, profoundly impacted the realms of photography and printmaking. In its aftermath, photographers documented the widespread destruction, capturing haunting images of the devastation and human resilience, reflecting a new era of social consciousness and realism in Japanese photography. The disaster also played a pivotal role in revitalizing traditional woodblock printmaking, inspiring artists to create powerful and emotionally charged prints that depicted the earthquake's aftermath, offering a bridge between the past and present by blending traditional techniques with contemporary subject matter. This seismic event thus left an indelible mark on Japanese art, pushing it towards greater social engagement and a fusion of modern and traditional artistic sensibilities.

Fittingly, Inagaki elects for a limited palette in this straightforward but powerful composition. Plumes of smoke ascend as a fire consumes a long horizontal structure. One can’t make out the upper portion of the building, leading the viewer to believe it was consumed by this uncontrolled blaze. After the earthquake, it was common to see uncontrolled fires, such as this one, consuming large portions of the city for days.

Connoisseur's Note

As a resident of Tokyo, Inagaki experienced first-hand the devastating impact of this calamity. His artwork from this time is an important historical record and a significant contribution to Sosaku Hanga. In that vein, It is interesting to note that this design was included in issue 6 of the magazine HANGA in 1925. The work’s powerful subject in conjunction with the artist's confident carving was a welcomed addition to this significant Sosaku Hanga magazine.