{"product_id":"dancing-figure-kaoru-kawano","title":"Dancing Figure - Kaoru Kawano","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kaoru Kawano (1916–1965)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dancing Figure (Camellia), also known as \u003cem\u003eCamellia Festival (Tsubaki Matsuri)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e c. 1950s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Genuine Japanese color woodblock print\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vertical format\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaper Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 16.5 × 11.25 inches\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis genuine Japanese color woodblock print is Kaoru Kawano’s \u003cem\u003eDancing Figure (Camellia)\u003c\/em\u003e, also known as \u003cem\u003eCamellia Festival\u003c\/em\u003e. The design dates to approximately the 1950s and is a characteristic example of Kawano’s distinctive approach to the postwar Japanese \u003cem\u003esōsaku-hanga\u003c\/em\u003e movement. Catalogued impressions identify the subject as a dancing woman in a yellow kimono with a red camellia in her hair. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDancing Figure (Camellia)\u003c\/em\u003e depicts an elegantly stylized woman caught in a graceful turning pose. Her brilliant yellow kimono forms a sweeping curve against the deep green-black background, while a partially opened fan appears behind her. A single vivid red camellia accents her elaborate hair. Kawano reduces the woman's face to a few delicate features, allowing the strong silhouette, textured wood grain, and contrasting blocks of color to carry the composition. The result feels distinctly modern while retaining the elegance and restraint of traditional Japanese figure prints.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInscriptions \u0026amp; Marks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDancing Figure (Camellia)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlternate Title:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCamellia Festival (Tsubaki Matsuri)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kaoru Kawano (河野薫)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist Seal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Kawano seal within the image at lower right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Circular watermark\/impressed paper mark visible in the lower margin on verso. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesign Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e c. 1950s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/strong\u003e Color woodblock print\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kawano was known for self-carved and self-printed impressions of this design; signed limited-edition examples are documented in editions of 300. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good. Full margins with light overall toning consistent with age. Colors remain strong, particularly the rich yellow of the kimono, red camellia, and deep green background. The sheet retains attractive deckled edges. Tape marks on top verso. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Artist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kaoru Kawano (1916–1965) was an important Japanese printmaker associated with the \u003cem\u003esōsaku-hanga\u003c\/em\u003e, or “creative print,” movement. Born in Hokkaido, Kawano studied at the Kawabata Art School and developed an immediately recognizable style built around simplified forms, expressive wood grain, bold areas of color, and quiet, introspective figures. Unlike the collaborative system traditionally used for ukiyo-e and much \u003cem\u003eshin-hanga\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003esōsaku-hanga\u003c\/em\u003e artists emphasized the artist’s direct involvement in designing, carving, and printing their own works. Kawano became internationally known after World War II, particularly for his images of children, women, birds, and animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Print:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDancing Figure (Camellia)\u003c\/em\u003e is an especially strong example of Kawano’s combination of traditional Japanese subject matter with mid-century modern design. The woman's kimono, fan, floral hair ornament, and dance pose recall traditional \u003cem\u003ebijin-ga\u003c\/em\u003e, yet Kawano treats the figure almost as an abstract arrangement of shapes. The dramatic yellow silhouette against the dark field and the visible texture of the woodblock give the print the graphic simplicity associated with his mature work. Documented lifetime impressions were self-carved and self-printed, with some issued as pencil-signed and numbered editions of 300; posthumous impressions of the design are also known.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63088715104627,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1008\/3549\/2211\/files\/YGP00264.jpg?v=1784157373","url":"https:\/\/blueskyprintshop.com\/products\/dancing-figure-kaoru-kawano","provider":"Blue Sky Print Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}