Rafu to Joyu (Nudes and Actresses) ventures into figure study and the performing arts, two subjects that Sekino approached with equal seriousness and sensitivity. The print showcases his confident draftsmanship and mastery of the female form. Prices range from $250-$800 for this artist-pulled edition.
"Rafu to joyu" — nudes and actresses — pairs two categories of female subject that occupied different positions in Japanese visual culture: the artistic nude (rafu) as a subject of formal study, and the actress (joyu) as a figure of glamour and public performance. Sekino's coupling of these categories suggests an interest in the relationship between aesthetic objectification and professional self-presentation, the actress as a figure who inhabits her own image.
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
1919
Color woodblock print; oban
1943
Color woodblock print
Autumn 1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
1924
Color woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Rafu to joyu (Nudes and Actresses) was created by Jun'ichiro Sekino (関野準一郎).
Rafu to joyu (Nudes and Actresses) uses Nishiki-e, Moku-hanga, and Kento, on woodblock print.
Rafu to joyu (Nudes and Actresses) depicts nude, figures, and portraits.
