<b>WHITE PEACOCK</b> / Tsuchiya Rakuzan1932<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Perhaps inspired by large-scale Audubon prints, Rakuzan set out to create a series of one hundred oversized prints of kacho-e, or bird and flower designs. The prints were lavishly produced with bright and vivid colors, metallic pigments, and expertly carved and printed by the top artisans of the period. The series took four years to complete and stands as one of the crowning achievements in 20th-century kacho-e. 

This stunning design depicts a large, white peacock, and Rakusan devotes most of the composition to showcasing this beautiful bird. The spellbinding white in the feathers is broken down by fine lines that designate the pattern of the bird’s elaborate plumage. The background is a neutral beige that serves to accentuate the startling coloration of this majestic bird. The artist adorns the background with red and rose color crabapple blossoms that provide a pop of color, perhaps suggesting the liveliness of this bird if encountered out in the wild.

Connoisseur's Note

From 1929 to 1933, Rakuzan produced his series of one hundred oversized kacho-e. Originally the artist intended to produce a single print run of two hundred copies each. However, he began reprinting additional print runs as he sold out each design, resulting in multiple states for each print. This impression is an example of the first edition with the Raku-san Kyo signature and the appropriate early artist seal.