<b>HOLIDAY</b> / Tadashige Onoc. 1936<B>SOLD</B></em>

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 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.

The striking design captures a moment of leisure, portraying a family adorned in their finest attire on their day off. The piece embodies Ono's distinctive expressive style reminiscent of his pre-1950s compositions, characterized by bold lines and vibrant splashes of color. The figures, with their uniform, almost expressionless faces, convey a deliberate departure from individuality, emphasizing the conceptual social norms of the family unit over realistic portraiture. Notably, this print earned the prestigious 1st prize at the Japan Print Association in 1936, a testament to its artistic merit.

An intriguing facet of Ono’s artist's journey is his later disavowal of Marxist or Communist social theory, marking a significant ideological shift in his career. In a curious turn of events, Ono dedicated a substantial part of his life to the destruction of his early works. This deliberate act adds a layer of complexity to his artistic legacy, reflecting the evolving perspectives and choices that shaped his artistic trajectory.

Connoisseur's Note

This large-scale work is exceptionally uncommon, representing one of the few designs created on such a grand scale from this era. The print underwent restoration, particularly at the edges of the design, where losses were filled in.