Details

This rare lithograph is one of three Yamamoto produced in Japan upon his return from Europe. The work is primarily rendered in tones of gray, but the various tonalities present give the print a lively luminescence. The swirling lines that build up the design recall the early expressionistic work of Edvard Munch. Ever the unceasing experimenter, Yamamoto’s designs were not always produced solely with woodblocks; he also utilized a combination of stone, copper, and zinc plates for his designs. The Western-style signature executed within the plate extends the design into the visual vernacular of its Western counterparts, and a glance may make it difficult to identify it as Japanese.

Connoisseur's Note

This work is among Yamamoto’s last printed designs. Of all his prints, his lithos are perhaps the most rarely seen for sale. Their exceptional printing quality, as well as this impression’s near-pristine museum-like condition, make this print among his most sought after works. Indeed, a true find when such works are nearly impossible to source.