Untitled (terashima-shimei)
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
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 third untitled woodblock print by Terashima Shimei extends the group of uncataloged works in the artist's [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) output. Each untitled piece represents a unique composition that simply lacks a recorded name, not a duplicate of another work. The [shin-hanga](/glossary/shin-hanga) printing process produced images of considerable technical refinement, with the carver translating the artist's design into relief blocks and the printer building up colors through multiple impressions. A typical Terashima beauty portrait might require separate blocks for the background wash, the kimono's base color, its decorative pattern, the obi sash, the figure's hair, and the delicate skin tones achieved through [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) gradient printing. The cumulative labor invested in each print makes every untitled work a fully realized artwork deserving of the same attention as its named counterparts.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Untitled (terashima-shimei) was created by Terashima Shimei (寺島紫明).
Untitled (terashima-shimei) depicts figures, bijin-ga, and abstract.
