Face- LE

A close-cropped composition focusing on a woman's face, this limited edition print exemplifies Kawano's ability to distill expression and form into essential elements. Rather than the full-figure compositions of his Dancing Figure series, the face as subject demands economy of line: the curve of an eyebrow, the set of the lips, and the fall of hair across the brow must together convey character. Kawano's carving in prints of this type tends toward bold, abbreviated marks that describe form through edge rather than interior modeling. The limited edition designation indicates the blocks were printed in a defined run, a practice consistent with the sosaku-hanga movement's emphasis on original prints of controlled quantity. Color is likely concentrated in the hair, lips, or a patterned collar.