Variation—Cross #2

Variation--Cross #2, a 1979 mezzotint, takes the cross form as a starting point for compositional exploration, subjecting this elemental shape to transformations of scale, orientation, or spatial positioning. The cross, one of the simplest and most universally recognized geometric forms, provides Hamanishi with a structure that carries minimal symbolic baggage in the Japanese context, allowing it to function as pure visual architecture. The "Variation" title signals a systematic approach, with each numbered iteration altering specific parameters while maintaining the cross as the governing motif. Hamanishi's burnishing translates the cross's right angles and flat planes into a three-dimensional presence, with the arms of the form appearing to project toward the viewer or recede into the plate's black ground depending on the direction of the tonal gradient applied to each surface.