Paper size
42.0 x 26.3 cm
Original Date
2020
Edition Date
2020
Publisher
Binnie
Description
Kabukichō 歌舞伎町 From the series Pictorial Allusions, Reused Blocks 本画取り Paper size: Diptych made in 2020 of 2 sheets of 42.0 x 26.3 cm each. Two copies available, numbered 18 and 19 out of an edition of 100. Comments from Paul Binnie: The old blocks of two Kabuki actors were incorporated into a busy street scene in Shinjuku, modern Tokyo’s bustling pleasure district. The various characters in the crowd were drawn from real people and there are some word games within the signs above. At 81 colors, this is the most separate printings I have ever used in a woodblock print so far. Two years ago I bought a set of blocks to make this actor design and decided to incorporate them into a piece of my own, placing these 18th century Kabuki actors (Kabuki actors Matsumoto Koshiro IV and Nakayama Tomisaburo I from 1794 by Toshūsai Sharaku) into contemporary Tokyo, appropriately enough in Kabukicho. I have printed the actors in a muted, faded palette to bring to mind old prints of the past and this sheet employed the 10 colors of the reproduction blocks plus 36 more, making 46 colors in total here.
Condition
Fine impression, colours and condition
