Combination—Curve #1
- Date:
- 1978
- Medium:
- Mezzotint
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
$1,500–$8,000. Common subjects: $1,500–$3,000. Key value factors: Hamanishi's extraordinary mezzotint technique makes his prints highly collectible. Butterfly and shell subjects are most popular.
Created in 1978, Combination--Curve #1 is an early mezzotint from Hamanishi's career that explores the visual possibilities of curved forms emerging from the velvety black ground that defines the medium. Mezzotint, a Western intaglio technique rarely practiced in Japan before Hamanishi, involves roughening the entire surface of a copper plate to hold ink uniformly, then selectively burnishing areas smooth to create tonal gradations from deep black to brilliant white. In this print, Hamanishi uses the curve as both a geometric element and a study in how light describes three-dimensional form. The seamless tonal transitions possible in mezzotint allow the curved shapes to appear to swell forward from the dark background with an almost sculptural presence. The title's "Combination" suggests the interaction of multiple curved elements within a unified composition.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Combination—Curve #1 was created by Katsunori Hamanishi (浜西勝則) in 1978.
Combination—Curve #1 uses Mezzotint, on mezzotint.
