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 powerful work, Ono’s focus sits directly on a lone figure and the path laid out before him. The composition is striking but stark and austere. A gray band on the left outlines the confines of a cement wall, while an overgrown green field barricades the right. The center plays host to a red band that may suggest a canal running parallel to the path. At the far end awaits a factory compound populated by smokestacks. The green coloration of the figure suggests a uniform, perhaps military fatigues. There is a strong force of foreboding behind the composition and palette. Perhaps Ono’s design is a social commentary on the life of factory workers or members of the military. In this composition, the distinction between the two is remarkably ambiguous.

Connoisseur's Note

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