Rare Aviation Books

[Triptych]

SADANOBU, Hasegawa

[Osaka]: Circa 1840. Three full-colour woodblock prints on lightweight paper that, when put together, form one image. Each print is 25 cm x 36 cm, bringing the total width of the artwork to 75 cm x 36 cm. The prints are loosely inserted in a cream-coloured folder with a window on the front cover. Light wear on the left-hand side edges of the second and third components of the triptych, small tear in top left corner of the second piece, small tear in the top right corner of the third piece; otherwise a vibrant artwork in near-fine condition. A triptych of beautifully executed and printed woodblocks depicting a man pushing a boat occupied by a woman away from a dock, leaving another man behind. The figures, most likely kabuki actors playing out a scene from a play, are in dynamic poses that create a wave-like flow across the triptych. The textiles they wear and those that surround them – the woman's obi, the central figure's kimono, the curtains of the boat – are patterned with delicate details. The colours are vibrant, with highlights of yellow and intense blues contrasting with the more muted grey, green, soft pink and pale aqua tones.

This accomplished print is by Japanese craftsman Hasegawa Sadanobu I (1809-1879), a respected artist associated with the School of Osaka printmakers. While the primary focus of the school lay in creating prints such as this one for kabuki theaters, Sadanobu also demonstrated remarkable versatility across a wide variety of genres. Item #4972

Price (AUD): $590.00