Head of Christ

Working in pastel rather than his usual woodblock medium, Shinagawa renders the face of Christ in a work that bridges Japanese and Western religious iconography. The choice of pastel allows for softer blending and more subtle tonal transitions than woodblock printing typically permits, qualities that suit the contemplative subject. Christianity has maintained a minority presence in Japan since the sixteenth century, and Japanese artists have periodically engaged with Christian imagery, from the hidden kirishitan art of the Edo period to the modernist reinterpretations of the twentieth century. Shinagawa brings his expressionist sensibility to the subject, likely departing from conventional Western depictions to create a Christ figure inflected by Japanese aesthetic values. The head-study format connects this work to his secular portraits while elevating the subject into sacred territory.