Paul Binnie, Scottish, b. 1967
A Collection of Eastern Brocade Beauties: First Night
(Azuma nishiki bijin awase: Shoya)
a view of a nude from behind, with white mica background over gofun, baren sujizuri in the pink robe to her left, the red hair accessories embellished with mica; signed at left in kanji, Bin-ni, followed by artist's red seal Binnie, the series title on the upper left margin, Azuma nishiki bijin awase, the print title on the lower left margin, Shoya, embossed Binnie at the center of the bottom margin, and numbered and signed in pencil, 30/100, Paul Binnie; July 2011
dai oban tate-e 17 1/2 by 12 1/8 in., 44.6 by 30.8 cm
This elegant composition of a nude against a white ground, with only a touch of red in the robe by her side, and red and purple in her hair ornaments, may seem like a departure from Binnie's typical lavish bijin prints; however, the simplicity is deceptive. The gofun (ground calcified oyster shells) background is washed with thin mica applied with a technique Binnie gleaned from a Taisho Period (1912-1926) publication. A photograph gives a hint of the glistening mica, but can not capture the true effect of light on the surface.
SOLD