Description
The technique here is marked by white lines and areas set against a dark background. Damp paper was placed on a carved wooden block and pressed into the engraved incisions. The paper was then hand colored, the sunken areas remaining white and appearing in reserve against the colored background. The effect is meant to resemble a stone rubbing, a traditional technique in China used to reproduce and preserve images on monuments on paper.
Provenance
Henri Vever [1854–1942], France (?-1942); (Sotheby & Co., London, UK, March 26, 1974, part I, lot 88) (March 26, 1974); John R. Gaines (1974-1979); (Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, NY, May 23-25, 1979, lot 464, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Kelvin Smith) (May 23-25, 1979); The Kelvin Smith Collection, Cleveland, OH, given by Mrs. Kelvin [Eleanor Armstrong] Smith [1899-1998] given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1979-1985); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1985-)
Accession Number
1985.363
Medium
color woodblock print with hand coloring; stonerubbing technique (ishizuri-e)
Dimensions
Overall: 77.5 x 29.8 cm (30 1/2 x 11 3/4 in.)
Classification
Credit Line
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith