Quiet Couple- LE
by Kaoru Kawano
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
- Image courtesy of
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
The first of the Quiet Couple limited edition impressions, this print shares the same composition as the standard Quiet Couple while carrying limited edition designation. Kawano's limited editions were particularly sought by Western collectors active in Japan during the postwar decades, when sosaku-hanga artists developed direct relationships with international buyers. The pairing of bold, expressive carving with intimate subject matter—two figures in quiet proximity—exemplifies Kawano's synthesis of modernist formal values and traditional bijin-ga themes. Hand-applied color through multiple woodblock passes on washi gives the impression a warmth and tactile presence distinct from mechanical reproduction.
