Obata: Light Fog, City of Berkeley Watercolor (SOLD)

Artist: Chiura Obata   (1885-1975)
Title: Light Fog, City of Berkeley  Date: ca. 1930s-1940s

“Light Fog, City of Berkeley” : Titled thus in pencil by the artist, verso, our view is looking towards the top of a gentle hill, the couple walking ahead about to disappear into the mist. They are the vanishing point in the strong overall linear perspective that the artist has skillfully choreographed. To the left is a street with a single sporty car of the era parked close to the curb. To the right are residential buildings, and overhead is a line of telephone poles that recede both spatially through size and modulating through color to indicate both fog and distance. As the trees sport autumn colors, this must indicate the season.

Obata’s mastery of the brush was so complete that he could paint in many different styles, all of them unique to his experience and training. As Obata himself wrote “But if the artist is full of individuality, the product is also full of individuality, and it is a true artwork.” (See page 127 of Chiura Obata: An American Modern). Obata taught at Berkeley between 1932 and 1954, and the University of California, Berkeley preserved many of his paintings while Obata and his family were interned in Utah during WWII.  Provenance: Estate of Chiura Obata. Includes a Certificate of Authenticity.

Condition: Excellent condition overall. With two minor discolorations near edges. Backed with the original backing that was applied to the paper by the artist.

Dimensions: 53 x 39 cm
Provenance:  Provenance: Estate of Chiura Obata. Includes a Certificate of Authenticity from the Estate of the artist.
Signature: Chiura Obata  Seal: Artist's seal in red

SKU: OBA164