Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

Heron Maiden
(Sagi musume)

signed in kanji Bin-ni with oval artist's seal Bin-ni and rectangular date seal Heisei go nen, 1993

oban tate-e vertical diptych 36 by 12 1/4 in., 91.3 by 31.1 cm
(top sheet: 46.8 by 31.1 cm; bottom sheet: 45

This is the very first print that the artist carved and printed the blocks on his own. At this point, he was primarily interested in the effect of the printing process and was not concerned with the concept of producing a complete edition. There were very few impressions made, perhaps around twenty, and there are considerable variations between the impressions. This print is within the first three or four pulls from the blocks. Compared with a batch he made a few months later, the pigments are somewhat darker and more mottled. He experimented with mica in the background and blind-printing with a pale grey wash in the area of the folds of the sleeve and the umbrella was printed without the ribs.

Reference:
Paul Binnie: A Dialogue with the Past- The First 100 Japanese Prints, 2007, p. 43, no. 1

price: Sold