Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

Snow, Moon and Flowers in Downtown Tokyo: Snow at Asakusa
(Shitamachi setsugekka: Asakusa no yuki)

the series title at upper left, Shitamachi setsugekka, followed by the print title Asakusa no yuki, signed Bin-ni with artist's red seal Binnie, and pencil signed and numbered in the bottom margin, 72/100 Paul Binnie, 1998

oban tate-e 16 1/2 by 11 3/4 in., 42 by 30 cm

This is one of Binnie's earliest landscape designs; his use of the cascading wood grain in the sky is a classic hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and is particularly reminiscent of 19th century night views by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). The subtle bokashi from blue to purple and then a transparent orange on the horizon, and then the again from purple to blue in the foreground effectively emphasizes the strong diagonal composition.

Reference:
Paul Binnie: A Dialogue with the Past - The First 100 Japanese Prints, 2007, p. 100, no. 58
(inv. no. C-1976)

price: $700