Sumi Ink Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Ink and watercolor on fibrous Japon paper laid down to period cream laid paper, 6 x 7 1/2 inches (155 x 190 mm). Minor toning and some insect damage on the mount, painting itself rem...

Beijing-ga Series XXX (nº 30) Title: “Takashimaohisa” Ohisa, along with Okita and Tomimoto Toyohina, were the three most famous beauties of the time. The first two were waitresses...

Liz Wall. Welsh. Siren. Watercolor & Ink. Signed & Dated 2011 Lower Right. Image size 11.4 inches x 18.9 inches ( 29cm x 48cm ). Frame size 25.6 inches x 26.8 inches ( 65cm x 68cm ...

Bijin-ga Series I (Nº1) Title: Karagoto of The Chojiya Head and bust portrait of the beautiful courtesan Karagoto, of the Chojiya House, who appears looking to her left while drying her right ear with the sleeve of her yukata (a fine summer garment, normally made of cotton that was normally used after bathing). The wide sleeve falls from her ear covering her right breast and leaving the left one uncovered. This image is part of the bijin-ga series (“Pretty women”) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print...

Early modern black and white sketch by iconic Houston based artist David Adickes. Pulled from a collection of previously undiscovered sketchbooks, this work serves as a peak behind t...

“What he has learned from the art of the museums, Cobb has fully assimilated and modified in the development of his own personal vision. And while enriched by these historical perspe...

Early modern black and white sketch by iconic Houston based artist David Adickes. Pulled from a collection of previously undiscovered sketchbooks, this work serves as a peak behind t...

LOVE FOR A STREET-WALKER Crayon, graphite, pencil on paper. Measurements: (H) 76 x (W) 56 cm. Attractive portrait of an Edo prostitute hurrying through the streets. She wears a black kimono over layers of colored kimono, tucking her hand into the "obi" at her waist. A white scarf is draped over her head, the edge caught between her teeth, and loose wisps of hair framed her face. There is an impressive contrast between the black kimono and the yellow-orange of collars, sleeves and "obi", balancing the composition the pastel pink of the scarf that covers her head. This image is part of the "bijin-ga" series, Pretty Women, drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print "Love for a street-walker" (1795), 37,2 x 24,6 cm. The British Musem. London, UK. The artist reproduces the seal of the censor (Kiwame) and from the original publisher ("Tsutaya", climbing leaf)), between the two, the signature of Mario BGil written in Japanese, with the date 14 (2014). The mesaurements of the drawing are 76 x 56 cm. (29,92 x 22,05 in.), with a painted surface of 67 x 49,5 cm. With his work on the "bijing-ga" series, Mario BGil wanted to embellish, give brilliance and volume to the images presented by japanese artist Kitigawa Utamaro in those beautiful engravings, ennobled with the patina of time, which have served as inspiration. The result obtained is almost life-size portraits, endowed with strong chromaticism and valuable contrasts, all enhanced, in turn, with the volume provided by the weight and rigidity of the paper, and its thick texture (Fabriano Artistico “grana grosso”, 640g/m2; the thickness and hardness of the paper makes it necessary to transport it without rolling). In this way, Mario BGil pays tribute to his admired artist and offers us a new and enriched vision of this popular facet of oriental art from the 18th and 19th centuries. ABOUT THE ARTIST Mario BGil is a self-taught artist who for years has combined his creative activity with his work in the family business, away from commercial art galleries. In 2012, a deep interest in oriental art was awakened in him and he began to study the great masters of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, who had such an influence on the European avant-garde of the late 19th century. The discovery of Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806), a key figure in the metropolitan culture of Edo (now Tokyo), and a point of reference in the history of Japanese engraving...

Early modern black and white sketch by iconic Houston based artist David Adickes. Pulled from a collection of previously undiscovered sketchbooks, this work serves as a peak behind t...

Bijin-ga series XXIX (Nº 29) Title: Bijin Ôkubi Upper torso portrait of a Japanese beauty, depicted with a graceful hand gesture and an ornate headdress. Her soft round features contrast with the colourful sharp angles of the collars of her kimono. Her elongated oval face, straight nose and red butterfly lips are typical of the prototype of a beautiful woman, Bijin-ga. Her upper torso and face occupying the central section of the picture show a composition type that became known in time as Large-head pictures, or Okubi-e; compositions with which Utamaro became a model for generations of woodblock artists. This image is part of the Bijin-ga series (“Pretty women”) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print...

Bijin-ga Series XXXIV (Nº 34) Title: Miyahito of the Ôgiya Three quarter portrait of the elegant courtesan Miyahito of the Ôgiya House. This beautifully dressed japanese woman wears a solid grey outer robe, which contrasts with her soft rose kimono and the colored obi with an intricate geometric pattern. Her hair is arranged high atop her head, adorned with several hairpins. A classic Utamaro beauty print recreated with extraordinary taste and subtlety by Mario BGil in this delicate drawing. This image is part of the bijin-ga series (“Pretty women”) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print...

Bijin-ga series XXV (Nº 25) Title: SOMENOSUKE OF THE MATSUBAYA Somenosuke of house Matsubaya, known as a youthful courtesan who quickly rose through the ranks of popularity is shown producing a concealed letter, glancing about to confirm she is indeed alone. The highlights of the drawing are the fine carving of the courtesan´s hair-line and the fine dress; an elegant kimono with vivid colors and intricate dessing. This image is part of the bijin-ga series (“Pretty women”) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print...