Sumi Kimono Hen

In 2017, I was asked to view Boston’s MFA exhibit, “Showdown: Kuniyoshi vs Kunisada”, create a work inspired by seeing the show, and then do a demonstration of my process at the Museum.  The result was a triptych of three guinea hens,  the main influence being from Kunisada’s work, “Fashionable Firefly-Hunting”.

“Sumi Kimono Hen” was made during the summer of 2021 from the blocks of “Kimono Hen”. The “hen” prints of 2017 were made for demonstrations, with the intent to print the edition later. Four years passed. I decided to feature sumi, a rich, black ink made from soot and animal glue, and printed the editions with a completely new color palette.

Paper: Yamaki Hosho
Blocks: Eight Impressions on Shina Plywood
Ink: Powdered Pigment and Sumi Ink
Actual Size: 10″ x 16″, Edition of 20, 2021