Obata: Lake Mary, Inyo National Forest (Sold)

Artist: Chiura Obata (1885-1975)
Title: Lake Mary, Inyo National Forest
Date: 1930
Size: 33.1 x 45.4 cm

We feel the cool isolation in this view of Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes, California. Obata himself is quoted in “Obata’s Yosemite” (1993): “Silence reigns supreme here around Mammoth Lakes in the High Sierra. In the lakes are found trees standing dead, lonely, and silent. Crisp, chilly morning breezes blow softly, caressing the surface of the icy water.” Interest in Obata’s prints from this series has skyrocketed recently, propelled by several recent exhibitions that include the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Whitney has an example of this work in its permanent collection; its colors are nearly identical to the colors in this example. There is no difference in quality between signed and unsigned works from this series. Many museum examples are unsigned as here, including the set in the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (Achenbach); and there are no posthumous or later editions of these works. In the Takamizawa booklet that was published with information on this set, this work required 112 separate printings.

Publisher: Takamizawa
Literature: Shown in “Obata’s Yosemite”, page 119. Whitney Museum of American Art; see collection online.
Signature: Unsigned, as is common
Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.

SKU: OBA010S