Key value factors: As self-carved and self-printed works, sosaku-hanga value is tied to the artist's reputation and edition size. Larger formats, earlier editions, and historically significant works command the highest prices.
This woodblock print belongs to Okamoto Yoshimi's "Imayo" series, a title meaning "modern" or "contemporary" in Japanese, derived from a form of popular song that flourished during the Heian period. The pairing of an ancient cultural reference with the concept of modernity creates a productive tension between past and present. The nineteenth entry in the series suggests an extended investigation of what "modern" means when filtered through the traditional medium of woodblock printing. Okamoto may be exploring how contemporary sensibilities, subjects, or visual strategies intersect with the centuries-old techniques of carving and printing that connect his practice to Japan's printmaking heritage. The title itself performs the bridge between eras, naming a medieval art form to describe a present-day condition, just as the woodblock medium spans the distance between Edo-era workshops and postwar studio practice.
Imayo (Modern) 19 was created by Okamoto Yoshimi (岡本吉実).
Imayo (Modern) 19 depicts music and abstract.
