Butterfly
by Maeda Masao
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
by Maeda Masao
$500–$4,000. Butterfly subjects are particularly sought after. Good mountain prints: $1,500–$2,500. Key value factors: Maeda Masao's atmospheric mountain and landscape prints have a dedicated following among sosaku-hanga collectors.
"Butterfly" is a [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) print by Maeda Masao, created during the Showa period. This work captures the ephemeral beauty of the butterfly with characteristic technical refinement and poetic sensitivity.
Maeda Masao renders the subject with meticulous attention to the delicate patterning of wings and the quality of light that gives the creature its luminous presence. The composition balances naturalistic observation with artistic interpretation, creating an image that is both a study of nature and a meditation on beauty and transience.
This print represents Maeda Masao's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Showa period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Butterfly was created by Maeda Masao (前田政雄).
Butterfly depicts insects and animals.
