$500–$4,000. Common prints: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: Matsubara's bold black-and-white prints are distinctive and sought after. Larger formats command premiums.
This woodblock print from the Showa period, circa 1984-1986, illustrates a scene from "Hagoromo" (The Feathered Robe), one of the most beloved plays in the Noh theater repertoire. The tale tells of a celestial maiden whose feathered robe is stolen by a fisherman; she dances for him to earn its return and then ascends back to heaven. Matsubara's interpretation of this ethereal narrative through mokuhanga brings the physical weight of carved wood and pressed paper to a story about weightlessness and flight. The feathered robe itself, with its otherworldly beauty, becomes a visual challenge: how to render the supernatural lightness of a celestial garment using the earthbound materials of woodblock printing. The print connects Matsubara's work to the rich tradition of Noh-themed Japanese art stretching back centuries.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe), Shôwa period, circa 1984-1986 was created by Naoko Matsubara (松原直子).
Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe), Shôwa period, circa 1984-1986 depicts figures, seascapes, and mythology.
