Yuji Hiratsuka

Animal Antennae Spy Ring

2020

Signed, titled, and numbered from the edition of 14. Image of a young girl with a traditional tea pot and ramen noodle cup. While the images have some resemblance to traditional Japa...

Signed, titled, and numbered from the edition of 15. Image of a young girl with a bird perched on her head while someone takes her photo. While the images have some resemblance to traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, their sense of whimsy, satire and irony relate more closely to contemporary life and western sensibilities. Young women and their relationships to shoes, food, and fashion provide much of Hiratsuka’s subject matter. Another group of his prints focus on landscape, flowers, and floral patterns. Hiratsuka’s graphic work has been exhibited in the Americas, Europe and Asia. He has received numerous awards in international competitions. During the last four years he has had 14 solo shows in the United States, and international solo shows in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, Munich, Germany and Geneva, Switzerland. Partial list of public collections: The British Museum, UK Tokyo Central Museum, Japan Panstwowe Museum, Poland The House of Humor and Satire, Bulgaria Cincinnati Art Museum, OH Jundt Art Museum, WA The Portland Art...

Medium: Intaglio and Chine Colle Year: 2023 Image Size: 10.5 x 7 inches Edition of 15 Signed, titled and numbered by the artist. A young woman contemplating small plants and animals...

A young female angel contemplating thorny rose.Signed, titled and numbered from the edition of 10. While the images have some resemblance to traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, thei...

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...

Bijin-ga series XXVIII (Nº 28) Title: Tatsumi Roko Portrait of Tatsumi Roko, a geisha of the pleasure quarters in the Edo period. The image belongs to the series Renowed Beauties Likened to the Six Inmortal Poets. The popular top-class geishas of the day , known as “oiran”, were depicted in this type of print. In ukiyo-e woodblock prints, this close-up portrait view of the upper body is known as an okubi-e (bust portrait). 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...

Bijing-Ga series XXVII (Nº 27) Title: Tomomoto Toyohina Tomimoto Toyohina was a much sought-after geisha (entertainer) who performed narrative ballads accompanied by the shamisen. She was one of several non-prostitute beauties, including teahouse waitresses, whom Utamaro depicted repeatedly in the early to mid 1790s. She appears here with a brush in hand, dressed and combed with simple elegance. This composition is from a six-print series comprising half-length portraits of famous beauties (Famous beauties of Edo). Utamaro elevated Tomimoto Toyohina to the status of one of the three most renowned beauties of her age (together with Okita and Ohisa). She was from a prominent family of musicians that provided entertainment in the Yoshiwara. Toyohina’s appeal undoubtedly was as much due to her appearance as to her skills in singing, and Utamaro’s celebration of her would have further elevated the status of an already well-known lineage. This image is part of the bijin-ga series (“Pretty women”) drawn by Mario BGil, based in the Kitigawa Utamaro woodblock print...