Hagoromo A

Part of Kawano's recurring Hagoromo series, this woodblock print presents a tennyo figure associated with the classical Japanese legend of the celestial robe. In the Noh play Hagoromo, a fisherman discovers the feathered robe of a heavenly maiden; the image of the robe-draped dancing figure became one of the most enduring subjects in Japanese visual art. Kawano translates this narrative into the [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) idiom — carving and printing by hand — foregrounding the physical texture of the carved block in the finished impression. The A composition in the series likely differs from the B variant in the figure's orientation, the configuration of the robe, or the dominant color palette. Kawano's signature bold outlines and areas of unmodulated color give the celestial subject a graphic strength that appealed strongly to mid-century Western collectors seeking accessible entry points into Japanese printmaking.