Details

Ono Tadashige was a prominent Sosaku Hanga artist and scholar of 20th-century Japanese prints. Ono’s early prints were deeply rooted in the social-critical movement of German expressionism and the art trend dominating within Russia and among critical intellectual circles in China. Ono’s later work saw a lessened proletarian engagement, but the artist’s interest in cityscapes and the newly industrialized face of Japan remained a constant theme throughout his career.

In this striking design, Ono’s keen focus is on a sprawling factory situated next to a river, which reflects the industrial grounds and advances its dominance further within the composition. The colors Ono selected are muted as if weathered or dampened by the smoke emanating from the towering smokestack. This compelling work invites the viewer to linger and populate this introspective composition.

Connoisseur's Note

This larger size work is in excellent condition and retains the original backing sheet used by the artist to title, date, and sign his work.