Obata: Before the Rain, Mono Lake (Sold)

Artist: Chiura Obata
Title: Before the Rain, Mono Lake
Date: 1930

The apogee of 20th century woodblock printmaking. This nuanced, rapturous distillation of beauty conveys how powerfully Obata was connected to the spiritual essence of the California landscape. One of the best designs in the series. From the World Landscape series, the groundbreaking effort that Obata spent all his savings on creating with the highest possible standards in collaboration with the Japanese publisher Takamizawa. The project employed more than 32 carvers and 40 printers for eighteen months. According to Takamizawa records, this design required 120 separate printing impressions. In “Obata’s Yosemite” (1993), the following text by Obata is quoted: “Mono Lake shows a maidenly beauty when it is still and quiet. Trembling, the lake awaits the approaching rain, the clouds of which hover over the distant mountain ridges.”

Publisher: Takamizawa
Literature: Shown in “Obata’s Yosemite”, page 19.
Signature: Unsigned, as is common

SKU: OBA012S