Japanese wood block prints

One of the fascinating things about collecting art is the different media artists use to express themselves. We have become very fond of different types of prints that artists have created from lino to etchings and screen to woodblock or woodcut prints. Japanese artists have a tradition of woodblock printing and we have collected several from different periods. The oldest is from the late 19th century by Toshikata and is a hand-coloured print called 'A spring walk' from a series entitled 36 elegant beauties. 

Toshikata

The picture is quite delicate as often the prints were on very fine paper like rice paper but the colours that are hand painted remain really vivid and stand out against the black and white background. 

The Heron Girl by Suzuki Harunobu is an example of Nishiki-e, which is multi-coloured woodblock printing. Previously printing was in black and white with hand colouring but this new method saw woodblocks developed for each colour that allowed them to be overlaid.

   

Heron Girl bySuzuki Harunobu

Although the artist created the image in the 18th century this print is more recent however it is unclear when it was created as woodblocks are often re-carved from time to time with a series printed. Nevertheless the colours in this print are stand out and true to his original intention particularly the use of red that characterises his work. 

   

Painting of Sitges by Spanish artist Angel Badia Camps

Picked up this fabulous little oil painting yesterday of Sitges near Barcelona. Painted on canvas and signed Camps we believe its by Spanish artist Angel Badia Camps who was well known in the 1960's as an illustrator for comic books. More can be found on this work at;

http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/angel-badia-camps-without-doubt-top.html

Sitges by Angel Badia Camps

The colours on this painting are wonderful and evoke the fishing village Sitges must have been in the 1960's. At the time it was a place that attracted many artists and writers and became a focus for the counter culture against Franco's dictatorship. A marvellous find. 

Calvin Burnett

Calvin Waller Burnett - An artist with a unique style

This is an absolute gem of a picture that we found in a second hand shop one Saturday afternoon amongst a pile of prints propped up against a wall. From first sight it was so unique a style in terms of imagery, texture and colours. It's by Calvin Waller Burnett an African American artist (1921-2007) who was based in Boston, Massachusetts and taught at the Massachusetts College of Art for over thirty years.  This is from a series of paintings believed to be from the 1970's and although it's in oil he liked to work in a range of styles and media gaining a reputation as a very eclectic artist. 

What we love about this painting is the way he has used a pallet knife to accentuate the subjects and their shape to give a sensual fluidity to the picture. 

Calvin Burnett

For more information about the life and work of this artist see his obituary from the Boston Globe at;

http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2007/10/12/calvin_burnett_eclectic_introspective_artist/

There is also a fascinating interview with the artist as part of the Smithsonian Institute's archives of American arts entitled Oral history interview with Calvin Burnett, 1980 June 13-1981 January 6, Archives of American art, Smithsonian Institution.

It can be found at; http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-calvin-burnett-11452