Jun'ichiro Sekino: White Cat with Long Hair

Artist: Junichiro Sekino (1914-1988)
Title: White Angora Cat  Date: 1956

A terrifically stylized longhaired white angora cat poses for us, all sinuous curves. Its fur is expressed with unique textures that have been created with several blocks, and its shape is not straightforward; the artist has captured the “catness” of the cat, while the portrait does not resemble what one would see in a photograph of this beautiful animal. Sekino created a number of charming designs featuring various types of cats posed in creative ways, and this is one of his finest examples.

Sekino was one of the major postwar figures of the sosaku hanga (creative print) movement. He was largely self-taught, but was strongly influenced by the great Kochiro Onchi. He actually grew up near Munakata Shiko in Aomori, and although 11 years apart, they were friends. He began making prints as a child in the fourth grade, and  won his first prize for a woodblock in 1935 at the 4th Nihon Hanga Kyokai. With the limited edition of 85/100, and French language notation of “”IIme etat, or “Second State”, indicating that the artist has modified the blocks to create this example.

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition. Some wrinkles to left margin and minor hinging remnants, verso. Dimensions: 31.2 x 60.2  cm
Signed:  Signed by the artist in white ink, lower right. Numbered in the margin 85/100

SKU: SEK024