<b>PARROT ON A CAMELLIA BRANCH</b> / Tsukuroka Kakunenc. 1940<B>SOLD</B></em>
ARTIST: Tsuruoka Kakunen (1892-1977)
TITLE: Parrot on a Camellia Branch
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: c. 1940
DIMENSIONS: 19 3/4 x 9 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
NOTE: First state with limited edition numeration and artist’s pencil signature; artist family seal at lower right
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SOLD
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Details
This delicately printed work is by the celebrated Japanese artist turned American citizen Kakunen Tsuruoka. The artist moved to the United States in the 1920s and was unfortunately interned by the U.S. government along with thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Kakunen produced four woodblock print designs. It is currently not known if these prints were executed in the United States or in Japan, as the publisher has not yet been identified.
In this design, the artist presents a charming composition of a parrot. The bird is presented with a richly printed coloration that appears striking for its realism and three-dimensionality. The elaborately colored bird is perched on a camellia branch, whose twisted form adds a level of movement. The background’s bokashi, or color gradation, provides print depth and advances an ethereal atmosphere.
Connoisseur's Note
This impression is part of the first edition of one hundred. There are later (most likely posthumous) impressions without the limited-edition numeration or artist signature. This print's condition is exceedingly fine, as it was never framed nor exposed to light for prolonged periods. The colors are in a pristine state of preservation and appear as fresh and vibrant as the day the work was executed.