Unknown
Ikebana - Carnations and Astilbe
ca 1895

Name: Ikebana - Carnations and Astilbe
Brand: Unknown
Price: 195 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Ikebana Japanese Woodblocks. Meiji Period. Circa 1895. A disciplined art form, Ikebana seeks to bring nature and man together. The emphasis is on form and simplicity of design. Although minimalistic, form is of the utmost importance. There is also a spiritual side to Ikebana with silence being a must throughout its practice. The enthusiasm for nature prints has spanned the centuries. By the mid-nineteenth century these works, illustrating varieties of flowers in naturalistic styles, had reached a peak of perfection. Each artistic form in traditional printing sought to enhance the beauty of botany. In the woodblock style, as it true for engravings and lithographs, it is imperative that the carving of each block be exacting as they must create an image true to that seen in nature. Woodblock printing flowered in the Edo Period in Japan, mid to late 19th century, and is still considered an art form of great precision and beauty. This style captures both the vitality and life inherent to the flower. Following the artist’s sketch, an image is carved into a block of wood to be transferred to paper in the same manner in which a painter applies his art to a canvas. Black inks form the outline of the flower and color inks are applied following nature’s guide. The woodblock is then pressed to hand-made screened paper which is then hung to dry. This lengthy process of composing a single image can take weeks. These images reflect a quality similar to watercolor and graphite resulting in a stunning and life-like portrayal.

Creation Year:

ca 1895

Dimensions:

Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)

Medium:

Woodcut

Movement & Style:

Academic

Period:

Late 19th Century

Condition:

Very good condition with minor stain on seam. Crisp image with beautiful original color. Framed to museum specifications using archival matting, backing, hinging. Suede mat. Glazed with ultra-violet filtering Plexiglas.

Gallery Location:

Florham Park, NJ

Reference Number:

Seller: 2015 03-18-151stDibs: LU652292362

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