Details

Although known for his woodblock prints and paintings, Toraji also explored sculpture at the start of his career. It was not unusual for an artist of his generation to do so, as art schools offered sculpture as part of a thorough curriculum. Moreover, the reductive process of woodblock print production is closely related to sculpture.

The sculpture presented here is a beautifully articulated female form. The work showcases a seated nude as she arranges her hair. Much like Toraji’s oil painting, the entire surface of the sculpture shows the artist’s hand, as traces of his palette knife are evident throughout. Though the woman’s task is not physically taxing or dynamic, Toraji’s work does capture a wonderful sense of movement through a graceful tension in her stance. 

Connoisseur's Note

This sculpture is an exceedingly rare work by Toraji. The work is listed and illustrated in the Toraji catalog raisonne produced by the Museum of Art Kochi in 2002.