Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

Hair Combing
(Kamisuki)

signed at the lower right in kanji, Bin-ni, followed by artist's red seal Binnie, the title at upper left margin, Kamisuki, numbered and signed in pencil on the bottom margin, 49/100, Paul Binnie, 2010

dai oban tate-e 18 7/8 by 13 3/8 in., 48 by 34 cm

This is a new state of one of Binnie's most popular designs,Natsu, which was released in 2003 as a part of the privately commissioned Four Season set in a very small edition of only 50 impressions. The subject itself is reminiscent of one of the most famous shin hanga bijin designs, Hashiguchi Goyo's Combing Her Hair (Kami sukeru onna, 1920). With this version Binnie changed the color palette of the kimono from blue to a soft mauve-purple, and the colors of the flowers and butterflies have changed as well. He created a new block for the checker-board patterned obi, and the baren sujizuri background is a paler pink which gradates into a light yellow. This edition is lavishly produced: the kimono is printed with extensive embossing to suggest the texture of the fabric, the hair is printed with lacquer, and the comb is highlighted with 22-carat gold leaf.
(inv. no. C-1960)

price: $1,100