Kokeshi, Shôwa period,
by Kaoru Kawano
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
by Kaoru Kawano
$500–$4,000. Common subjects: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: Kawano's early death at 49 limits her output. Her dreamlike figure prints are most sought after.
This Showa-period kokeshi print locates the traditional folk doll within the broader cultural revival of folk crafts that characterized postwar Japan. Kawano's rendering gives the doll a presence that transcends its humble origins — the bold outline and flat color fields of the sosaku-hanga approach lending the small object a monumental quality. The print reflects his sustained interest in everyday objects as worthy subjects for serious artistic attention.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Kokeshi, Shôwa period, was created by Kaoru Kawano (川野薫).
Kokeshi, Shôwa period, depicts still life and daily life.
