Jean Martin

Jean Martin, Man with scarf, circa 1950, Graphite on paper

circa 1950

Portrait of the top-class courtesan Hanamurasaki elegantly combed, and dressed in a simple formal kimono and obi, adorned with symbols of her okiya. She is sitting on her knees in a graceful pose, stretching her arms forward and crossing her fingers with a delicate movement of the wrists. This image is part of the “bijin-ga series” (Pretty women) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print “Hanamurasaky of the Tamaya”, (from the series: “Array of supreme beauties of the Present Day”, 1794), 36,2 x 25 cm. Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, USA. 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 business world, away from commercial art galleries. Man of very diverse interests and great artistic sensitivity, studied Art History and in 2012, a deep interest in oriental art was awakened in him so that 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...

Hanazuma, a beautiful high-class courtesan of the Hyôgaya House, appears sitting sideways on her legs, twisting a letter between her hands at the height of her heart. It is perhaps its message that makes her throw her head back with a beautiful turn of her entire body allowing us to contemplate the frontal details of her kimono and her obi, in green and orange, with beautiful ornaments. This image is part of the “bijin-ga” series (Pretty women) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print “Hanazuma of the Hyôgaya House”, (1794), 38,8 x 25,9 cm. The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum. Matsumoto, Japan. 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 business world, away from commercial art galleries. Man of very diverse interests and great artistic sensitivity, studied Art History and in 2012, a deep interest in oriental art was awakened in him so that 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...

A simply marvelous drawing - a self-portrait of the artist himself. It also reads as a very elegant and expressive line drawing of any gentleman - a hallmark depiction of a bon-vi...

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Many of you clicking on this drawing are probably doing so because you know of Ellsworth Woodward, who with his brother William Woodward around the turn of the 20th century sparked an arts renaissance in the South, the arts and culture in general having been mostly moribund since the dispiriting defeat experienced in the Civil War. I won't bog you down with lots of detail here since all you have to do is Google his name to bring up a wealth of information about him. He is most famous for his leadership of the arts program at Newcomb College in New Orleans, and its famous Newcomb Pottery...

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Mixed media drawing on paper Dated and signed on the back In the plastic work of Geneviève Seillé, the word, like a sign, reigns supreme. An object o...

Mixed media drawing on paper Dated and signed on the back In the plastic work of Geneviève Seillé, the word, like a sign, reigns supreme. An object o...