<b>SINGAPORE</b> / Elizabeth Keith1925<B>SOLD</B></em>
ARTIST: Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
TITLE: Singapore
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1925
DIMENSIONS: 17 5/8 x 12 1/4 inches
CONDITION: Excellent: faint crease at bottom right corner noticeable from reverse
LITERATURE: Richard Miles, Elizabeth Keith: The Printed Works, 1991, pl. 91
SOLD
Details
Elizabeth Keith first traveled to Tokyo when she was 28 and remained there for 8 years. While in Japan, she produced paintings and watercolors of her travels in Asia. Exhibiting her work to much acclaim, Keith quickly garnered the eye of Watanabe Shozaburo, the Shin Hanga publisher, who hired the artist to produce designs for his woodblock print studio. “Singapore” is among Keith’s finest prints produced by Watanabe.
A slice of Singaporean life—Keith’s design showcases a view of the colonial architecture that features arched walkways situated at the front of the various buildings that house ground floor business. People of various ethnicities (showcasing this city’s diversity of cultures) are populating the design, busy with their daily activities. Overhead, lanterns are strewn, while the blue walls of the walkway invite the viewer further in to engage with the locale.
This print is a testament to the captivating artistry achievable within the woodblock print medium. The print's design is a masterful fusion of intricate details and vibrant colors, showcasing Keith's skill in capturing the essence of Singapore's dynamic atmosphere. The use of woodblock printing allows for a unique interplay of texture and form, creating a visual depth that adds to the overall allure of the artwork. The portrayal of the city is both vivid and atmospheric, with the interplay of light and shadow giving a sense of excitement to the scene. The vibrant hues employed by Keith depict the city's diverse cultural landscape and infuse the print with a sense of life and energy. The meticulous craftsmanship and the careful consideration of color make this woodblock print a standout example of Keith's artistry and her ability to translate the spirit of a place onto the printed page.
Connoisseur's Note
This oversized design is in excellent condition with fresh and vivid colors. Richard Miles, author of Keith’s catalog raisonne recorded that only 15 impressions of this design were known to him at the time of the book’s production. Clearly, this work is among Keith's most sought-after and rare designs.
