Browsing Category

Prints & Wall Art

1980s Mezzotint Print by Koichi Sakamoto

1980s Mezzotint Print by Koichi Sakamoto
Photo Credit: JapanesePrintsPlus

1980s Mezzotint Print by Koichi Sakamoto

Buy It Now Price: $79.99 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This signed and numbered limited edition vintage mezzotint print by the Japanese artist Koichi Sakamoto evokes a feeling of ethereal winter solitude.

-Including its generous margins, this landscape mezzotint print measures 50 cm (19.5 inches) wide by 33 cm (13 inches) tall.  The image portion in isolation is a slightly smaller 36 cm (14 inches) by 22 cm (8.5 inches).

-Mezzotint is a type of intaglio print where the artist mechanically roughens or textures parts of the metal printing plate with specialized tools.  This produces rich, velvety tones and half-tones, something that is not normally possible in conventionally engraved prints.  This website gives an excellent overview of the mezzotint process.

-Koichi Sakamoto was born in 1932 in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo.  An active printmaker from the late 1950s until the 1980s, his works were exhibited at shows around the world, from Tokyo to Paris to Mexico City.  Sakamoto’s preferred techniques were etching and mezzotint, which helped him impart an unreal, dreamlike quality to his works.  Some of his earlier prints even experimented with surrealism.

-This haunting nightscape is both signed and numbered (#19 out of 50) in pencil, with is typical for Koichi Sakamoto’s work.  Limited edition prints are more attractive to the art investor because they have far more appreciation potential than art prints with unlimited runs.

-Japan went through a massive financial boom in the 1980s, which later collapsed with terrible economic consequences.  I find the otherworldly atmosphere of this Koichi Sakamoto mezzotint print to be fascinating because of its obvious parallels to 1980s Japanese culture – an unreal (economic) dreamscape that can’t possibly persist.

-I recently featured a different monotone winterscape print by Ohio artist Andrea Starkey.  I find it fascinating that two prints with a similar color palette and theme can convey such radically distinct impressions.

-Prices for Koichi Sakamoto mezzotint prints have steadily risen over the past 15 to 20 years.  It isn’t uncommon for them to sell for several hundred dollars apiece at auction now.  My expectation is that this trend of rising prices will continue for the foreseeable future.

-With an asking price of only $80, this vintage Japanese mezzotint landscape print by a recognized artist is an absolute steal.

 

Cons:

-Although not visible in the photo above, this mezzotint print has significant foxing and yellowing on the margins around the perimeter of the work.  While this is not ideal, most of it will be hidden when the print is matted and framed.  This minor defect is also the primary reason the work is selling for less than $100.

-The work comes unframed.  If you intend to display this gorgeously haunting print on your living room wall, you will need to pay an extra $100 to $200 to have it properly framed.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Bill Reiswig Nature Print Titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”

Bill Reiswig Nature Print Titled "Octopus Among the Pilings"
Photo Credit: BillReiswig

Bill Reiswig Nature Print Titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”

Asking Price: $60 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This calming undersea-themed print by the artist Bill Reiswig is titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”.  It is an original, mixed linocut and woodblock print that was handcrafted in traditional Moku Hanga style.

-This compelling nature print measures 9.5 inches (24 cm) wide by 7.5 inches (19 cm) tall.  It also has a 1.5 inch (4 cm) white margin around the work’s perimeter, making the actual printed area 8 inches (20 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm).

-Bill Reiswig is a self-taught artist living in Olympia, Washington, who specializes in nature-themed prints.  Olympia, the capital of Washington state, is located at the southern end of Puget Sound.  The city is not only close to the tranquil Pacific Ocean, but also to the majestic temperate rainforests of the Cascade Mountains.  Both of these stunning natural environments serve as inspiration for his work.

-Bill Reiswig produces prints using traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking techniques, otherwise known as Moku Hanga.  Most contemporary Western artists create Moku Hanga style prints using classic Japanese themes, such as landscapes, animals or nature scenes.

-Bill Reiswig created this undersea print from high quality kozo-pulp paper and water-based, Akua Kolor ink.  Kozo fibers are derived from the bark of mulberry trees and are a key ingredient in traditional Japanese print-making paper.

-The artist has skillfully used the repeating vertical pier pilings to give this work a sense of structure and perspective.  Repetitive motifs, strokes or lines are a common theme in high quality works of fine art.

-This undersea-themed print is a limited edition work, with only 40 copies created.  In addition, each print is individually signed and numbered.  Limited edition prints are far more desirable than those with no production cap.

-I love how the subdued oranges and pinks in the foreground of this Bill Reiswig print subtly contrast with the velvety blues of the surrounding ocean environment.

-“Octopus Among the Pilings” is a deceptively simple, yet aesthetically powerful nature print.  Why decorate your house or apartment with the reproduction print of an over-exposed, derivative artwork when you can purchase an original, limited edition fine art print like this for only $60?

 

Cons:

-This nature-themed woodblock print is relatively small and would be overwhelmed in a large space.  If you want to hang it in a large room, it would do best as part of an art grouping combined with many other works.  On the other hand, it would work superbly if hung in isolation in a bathroom, entry foyer, hallway, small bedroom or other constrained space.

-If you intend to display this alluring Bill Reiswig woodblock print, be prepared to spend an additional $50 to $150 for framing costs.  This will drive the total price of the art print up to around $150, which is still a bargain for a beautiful and original work.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Limited Edition Landscape Woodblock Print Titled “Snow Day”

Limited Edition Landscape Woodblock Print Titled "Snow Day"
Photo Credit: starkeyart

Limited Edition Landscape Woodblock Print Titled “Snow Day”

Asking Price: $250 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This captivating limited edition winter landscape woodblock print was made in March 2015 by the artist Andrea Starkey and is titled “Snow Day”.

-This contemporary landscape woodblock print measures 21 inches (53.3 cm) wide by 10 inches (25.4 cm) tall, with an additional one inch (2.5 cm) wide border around the entire work.  By the time you frame it, this work will be impressively large, perfect for hanging over the living room couch or the fireplace mantle.

-Andrea Starkey is a self-taught artist from Dayton, Ohio who took up printmaking in 2008.  Since then she has become accomplished at Moku Hanga style reduction prints.

-Moku Hanga is the Japanese term for woodblock printmaking.  Most contemporary Moku Hanga style prints created by Western artists concentrate on traditional Japanese themes, such as landscapes, animals or nature scenes.

-A reduction print is made in several discrete steps using a single block of wood (or other printmaking material).  The artist carefully carves the wood with razor-sharp printmaking tools until the first pass is ready.  Then the woodblock is inked and impressed on the paper.  This process is repeated for each different color, shade or tint applied.  The “Snow Day” print pictured above involved at least 15 separate reduction steps.  A good visual representation of the reduction process can be found on this website.

-It is hard for a monochromatic or grayscale print to have that eye-popping “wow” factor.  Color inherently holds the human gaze more easily.  However, this contemporary winter landscape woodblock print by Andrea Starkey is a grayscale masterpiece that up-ends that logic.

-“Snow Day” is an award winning artwork, having won 1st prize at Kettering, Ohio’s 2016 landscape art competition, The View.

-This winter landscape woodblock print was limited to a very small edition of only 28 total copies: 20 examples with a margin and 8 without a margin.  This small original print run increases the chances that this work will appreciate in value in the future.

-Because it is a destructive process by its nature, reduction prints are always limited edition.  Unlike most types of prints, once a reduction print has been finished, it is impossible to go back and make more.  There will never be anymore “Snow Day” prints made.

-I love the flowing composition of this work.  It draws the viewer’s eyes through the forest and along the wooden footbridge.  In addition, the adept use of light and dark, combined with the exquisite level of detail, make this a compelling landscape woodblock print.  And, apparently, other people agree with me.  The artist only has a single copy of this print left for sale (out of 28 originally) in her Etsy shop.  At only $250, it is a steal.

 

Moku Hanga Style Prints By Andrea Starkey for Sale on Etsy

(These are affiliate links for which I may be compensated)

 

Cons:

-Buying contemporary art for investment purposes is always a gamble.  I love this work and think it has a lot of investment potential, but I would only advise you to purchase it if you are aesthetically drawn to it.

-If you intend to hang this stunning winter landscape on your wall, prepare to pay anywhere from $100 to $250 for framing costs.  This would raise the total cost of the piece to $350 to $500, which is still a bargain, in my opinion.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Contemporary Drypoint Print Titled “Five Snails” by Mariko Kuzumi

Contemporary Drypoint Print Titled "Five Snails" by Mariko Kuzumi
Photo Credit: PrintsbyMariko

Contemporary Drypoint Print Titled “Five Snails” by Mariko Kuzumi

Asking Price: $200 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a simple, yet alluring contemporary drypoint print titled “Five Snails” by the New York artist Mariko Kuzumi.  It was made in 2011 using BFK Rives paper – a premium, acid-free, 100% cotton print-making paper imported from France.

-Drypoint is an etching technique where copper, zinc, Plexiglas or acetate plates are engraved using a sharp, needle-like implement.  The resulting etched plates are then inked and used to make prints.

-Mariko Kuzumi used two different zinc plates to make this contemporary drypoint print – one for primary subject matter of the snails and a second for the foreground grass.

–Mariko Kuzumi was originally born in Japan, but immigrated to the United States with her family at age 14.  She later attended the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA and BARCH degrees.  Her work has been exhibited extensively in the New York City area.

-Drypoint etched plates are very fragile.  Because of this they are only able to produce a very limited run of prints, often no more than a few dozen.  With this particular contemporary drypoint print, only a single copy has been made.  The “Five Snails” print is a unique work, a factor that will positively impact its future investment performance.

-I love the use of color and line in this contemporary drypoint print.  The snails form an arcing splash of color that naturally beckons the viewer’s gaze to sweep across the piece.  The loose, almost jittery art style lends the work a welcome sense of natural energy and vitality.  And the brightly colored snail shells add a refreshing vibrance to the otherwise monochromatic print.

-A lot of contemporary art has a reputation for being intellectually inaccessible or just plain ugly.  However, this contemporary drypoint print by Mariko Kuzumi bucks the trend.  It packages the best elements of contemporary art into a work that, while slightly abstracted, is still visually appealing and completely approachable.

-Considering this print’s appealing artistic style, premium materials and the fact that it is one-of-a-kind, I believe the asking price of $200 is easily justified.  It is also important to keep in mind that good art is invariably more expensive to produce than the layman would suspect.

 

Cons:

-Mariko Kuzumi’s “Five Snails” print only measures 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) wide by 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall, making it a rather small work.  Given its modest size, this contemporary drypoint print will never be appropriate for hanging over a sofa or fireplace.  However, it would still look stunning in a more intimate space like a bathroom, foyer or perhaps a bedroom.

-This work comes unframed.  If you actually want to display it, you will need to spend an additional $75 to $150 to have it properly framed with an acid-free mat and UV-filter glass.  This will drive up the total cost of the print to a range of perhaps $275 to $350.