Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer / Marketing and Digital Content Specialist):

Obata’s piece is delightfully charming. It’s as though I am looking through a window I wiped condensation off of to better see the snowfall outside. A pet dog is even reflected in one of the streaking, water droplets. The winter scene feels comforting and cozy, complete with a tiny bird flying around the dormant trees in the snow.

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager / Marketing Coordinator):

The VW Bus is charming all on its own, but Lockwood Dennis’s version is even better. His woodcut style blends so well with the simple, graphic nature of the bus. This piece is not trying to be perfect, it's just trying to show its true character. It has plenty of nostalgia in the best way, showing a love for the bold graphics of the ad era when sleek and minimal had yet to reign.

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

Wuon-Gean Ho's colorful linocuts are full of charm and story-telling. This particularly charming piece depicts a fish moving to a new home, seemingly with the help of another fish friend. The bold palette of primary colors and cute expressions call to mind an illustration from a children's book, while the objects the fish has chosen to bring with them increase that feeling of innocence and whimsy. I especially love the potted plant, the toothbrush, and the bicycle (Who doesn't love the image of a fish riding a bicycle?). Looking at this piece reminds me to find the fun and delight in life's new chapters and adventures.

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer / Marketing and Digital Content Specialist):

Takeda’s depiction of the death card is filled with eyes wide open, including on the intense central figure with their hands gracefully crossed, staring straight back at the viewer. In tarot, drawing the death card isn’t always a bad thing. Death is a normal part of life and can mean a new beginning as well as an end to something. As the year winds closer to its own death, this etching is a reminder to be alert and conscious about what in our own lives needs to come to a close and what could use more of our energy. 

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager / Marketing Coordinator):

Kouki Tsuritani’s ‘Pulcinella’ is a brilliant version of the cunning, rebel character I adore. The use of mezzotint accents the character perfectly with its darkness emphasizing his severity and the softness building mystery. This Pulcinella is composed and stoic with his prominent nose and just slits in the mask to reveal his eyes. There is so much to explore in Pulcinella’s gaze, the town on his hat and collar, and the moon’s reflection cradled in his arms. 

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

Michèle Landsaat's quietly whimsical etchings never fail to make me smile or tug at my heartstrings. I tend to be most drawn toward her more personal or poignant work, but 'Squirrel with a Pineapple' is an adorable piece that I enjoy just as much. A funny twist on a traditional still life, it sparks my imagination and inspires many questions in my mind, such as - How did the squirrel get indoors? What was the reaction of the person who encountered it? I love the vibrancy of the red strawberry and the look on the squirrel's face - caught in the act, but unbothered. As we enter deeper into the cool autumn months, surrounded by busy squirrels collecting food and building their nests, this piece gives me a new appreciation for these resourceful little creatures.

Medium: Woodblock
Dimensions: 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 inches (Image) 10 5/8 x 10 5/8 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1940
Edition: of 30

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer / Marketing and Digital Content Specialist):

Aoki’s woodcuts have a delightful charm. ‘Everyone on Earth 2’ breaks away from the traditional rectangular woodblock shape and playfully pulls viewers into its circular shape. Inside the circle, there are silhouettes of people in exaggerated poses that make the piece feel kinetic. Aoki’s world full of people has a liveliness to it that is captivating and lightens any mood.

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager, Marketing Coordinator):

"I am so captivated by Rob Connell's less-is-more, no-nonsense, it-is-what-it-is ink and gouache paintings. There is plenty of texture where there should be, plenty of contrast throughout, and nothing else to get in the way. His skies are often stark white, untouched and overexposed, while his windows are pitch black, completely concealing any interior. This piece has all of Connell's best features topped off with a uniquely pink building, speaking for the under-appreciated textures of our cities."

Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches
Artist details: American, 1963
Date finished: 2013
Edition: AP of 3

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

"Deborah Maris Lader's prints captivate me with their symbolic storytelling and strike a beautiful balance between dark and whimsical. This surreal lithograph, with its poignant symbolism, tells a complex story about personal growth and freedom. The girl holds a bird, calling out to its flock beyond the wall, and a kite that has begun to escape through a hole. She holds on to them as if they are parts of herself she can't quite let go of, especially while she herself is tangled in vines, passively trapped behind the wall. Her face looks vaguely pensive as she watches the flock of birds, perhaps wondering if she could free herself one day. I hope she does."

Medium: Woodcut
Dimensions: 12 1/2 x 37 1/4 inches
Artist details: Korean, 1954
Date finished: 2009
Edition: of 20

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

For me, ‘Go Out Together’ is about how individuals make up a community. While I sometimes feel like a nonentity walking around my city, artists like Lee Chul Soo remind me that I’m part of a greater network, that while I’m just one person experiencing the city in my own way, that itself makes me a member of the community. The simple composition gives me time and space to look around, examine each moment, and give it the value it deserves. I try to look at my neighbors (and of course the dogs) with the friendly eyes that Lee Chul Soo uses.

Medium: Color mezzotint
Dimensions: 7 3/4 x 7 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1948
Date finished: 2005
Edition: AP

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):

Peter Jogo’s mastery of color mezzotint never ceases to amaze. He expertly replicates sharp angles of light refractions in the glass vase of water, while simultaneously capturing the soft glow of light reaching us from behind the delicately overlapping flower petals. Rather than relying on the stark black and white of most traditional mezzotints, Jogo effectively employs the triadic harmony of purple, orange, and green to tie the full composition together. As summer winds down, this beautifully portrayed bouquet of cut flowers reminds us to enjoy the last rays of sunshine before fall arrives.

Medium: Wood engraving
Dimensions: 6 7/8 x 4 5/8 inches (Image) 10 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Canadian, 1939
Edition: of 46

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

Jim Westergard's charming wood engravings often feature animals in comedic situations, using plays on words and topical humor. This hilariously irreverent print truly needs no explanation and seems especially appropriate in light of all the latest indictment news.

Medium: Woodcut, monotype
Dimensions: 30 x 30 inches (image/sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1925 - 2016
Date finished: 1997
Edition: 38/75
Reference: Summers, 224

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

"'Jungle Bouquet' brings me so much energy and joy. It takes Summers' signature bold colors and blurred lines even further so the tassels become hyper saturated red blobs. The proportions are complicated with huge palm trees fitting into a ceramic vase that occupies an entire stage setting. To me, these contradictions and oddities are just playful and inviting. I enjoy this piece at first glance every time I see it."

Medium: Etching, collagraph, relief, chine-collé
Dimensions: 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1967
Date finished: 1998
Edition: of 30

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):

"Collagraph is a medium that became popular in the ‘60s after synthetic adhesives and plastics became more readily available. Artists from all over the world were invited to visit the studio of Glen Alps in Seattle, WA to try out the process of gluing substrates, scribing marks into the dried substrates, and printing the results as intaglio plates. This relatively new medium has continued its popularity  in the studios of contemporary artists, like Akiko Taniguchi. In ‘Atom’, Taniguchi is using texture and layering on her collagraph to pull the viewer into her 10x8 inch world of abstraction. In it, viewers get to explore the word ‘atom’ within complimentary red and green hues and explosive almond shapes. Every square inch of the print is delightfully filled with new and interesting textures that only collagraph can offer."

Medium: Color etching with chîne - collé and hand coloring
Dimensions: 19 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches (Image) 25 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Korean, 1983
Date finished: 2020
Edition: of 30

Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):

"Seoul (Sohee) Kim writes about her art as a playful engagement with alienating and ironic realities though imaginary space. Much of her work faces scenes such as packed train cars and claustrophobic workspaces, where bored and tired figures coexist with magical elements from her imagination. While humorous, much of her work conveys a sense of melancholy and anxiety, using a pastel color pallet, figures depicted in uncomfortable positions, and almost hallucinatory symbolism. “A Box for Rest Time” is as chaotic, muted, and claustrophobic as her other work, but it fills me with more peace and comfort than any other emotion. A figure sleeps in a box, filled to the brim with a messy bed, and next to them sleeps an oversized cat. I too want to hide away from the world and find sanctuary in a little box and a big bed with a big sleepy cat. There one finds safety, dreamless sleep, and rest beyond imagination."

Medium: Woodcut and Pochior
Dimensions: 15 x 11 inches (image/sheet)
Signature: Signed Verso
Artist details: American, 1955
Date Finished: 2013
Edition: of 13

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

"Jean Gumpper's woodcuts are expressions of her experiences in nature and each print feels like a spontaneous glimpse into the natural world, dynamic and full of depth. For her piece titled 'Tracery', Jean combines traditional woodcut printing with pochoir, a French stencil-based technique, to create a deeply layered and multi-textured quality. The lively leaves and vines in the foreground wind over an intricate web of dark branches, which resembles tracery on a gothic window. I'm drawn to any metaphor between the natural world and historical architecture, and the play of light shining through this nature-formed window inspires my imagination."

Medium: Mezzotint
Dimensions: 5 3/4 x 9 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1958
Date finished: 1992
Edition: of 100

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):

"Mershimer’s lovely ‘Cape Moon’ shows a moment in time, the late night or early morning in a small town; two houses and the parallel lives within, each with a light on while the rest of the town sleeps, one with flaking paint, the other with plants hanging in the window. There is so much nostalgia for quiet places and times in this piece, and private moments in the middle of the night, depicted in sharp beautiful contrast like a scene from a movie."

Medium: Mezzotint
Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 6 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1954
Date finished: 1999
Edition: XVI/XXX

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

"Mikio Watanabe is known for his elegant and evocative depictions of nude figures, and the mezzotint 'Sur la Branche' is a wonderful example. The subject emerges from a somber atmosphere of black & gray tones, bathed in a soft luminescence. She has positioned herself on the branch with perfect balance and intention, unbothered by the seemingly immeasurable height below, radiating peace and quiet agency. With her head turned away and her identity hidden from the viewer, she keeps this moment to herself, like a precious secret. To the viewer, it feels like a privilege to observe this serene celebration of her strength and grace."

Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 8 x 8 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1969
Date finished: 2006

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):

"In traditional western visual art, women are often depicted lounging and passive, while men are shown in active roles. Here, in Jenny Schmid’s imagined world of DzR, these roles are flipped. A skateboarding young woman is watching a lounging young man read a book. As she rides her skateboard, the young woman is literally breathing life and energy into the square scene built up of vibrant blues and oranges, offset by an analogous yellow background. Jenny Schmid’s work continues to grow in popularity with her contemporary takes on traditional ideas. This piece is one of her few left at Davidson Galleries still available for under $200."

Medium: Woodcut and drypoint
Dimensions: 14 x 9 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1983
Date Finished: 2014
Edition: 9/9 EV

Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):

"There is an aching tenderness and familiarity in Ellen Heck’s portraits of young people. Each child is full of peace and personality, and the combination of woodcut and drypoint mediums produces playful blocks of color and precise feathery lines. I was particularly struck by “Two”, a portrait of a child obscured but looking directly out of the page, holding two hearts against their chest. Worked exclusively in grey tones, the child’s expression shows such freedom and soulfulness, an ineffable emotion and state of being that feels unreachable in adult life. The child does not wonder who they are or how they must be in the world. They simply are themself, and have never considered being otherwise."

Medium: Etching, aquatint
Dimensions: 3 x 2 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1958
Date finished: 1997
Edition: 15/40

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

" I find 'Elston Ave.' so interesting because it's a compression of a place into one image. To describe the experience of an entire city street is impossible, but here we see a version of Elston Avenue through the artist's eyes. His priorities, emphasis, symbols, and layers are borderline nonsensical, but full of texture and oddities that speak to his personal interpretation. I would love to take a walk down the avenue of Fitzpatrick's drawings."

Medium: Woodcut
Dimensions: 7 5/8 x 5 1/8 inches
Artist details: English, 1833 - 1898
Date of plate: 1903

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

"Beginning of the World was completed after the artist's death from a group of two hundred or so incomplete drawings of the story of Adam and Eve. Although the imagery is fairly traditional, the engraver relying on Chaucer to fill in the blanks, I find the piece unusually contemporary. To me, Eve is uniquely unapologetic and active as she turns to Adam while Adam's shame or disappointment is the most apparent. I appreciate this more modest, emotional, and shameless depiction of Adam, humbly holding his face as he walks hand-in-hand with Eve."

Medium: Reduction woodcut
Dimensions: 15 x 32 inches (Image) 18 x 34 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1950
Date finished: 1999
Edition: of 10

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Specialist):

"Terrain / 4 Directions is one of Mary Farrell’s largest and most intricate pieces featuring her iconic portrayal of hands. Reduction woodcut is a notoriously complex technique that requires a great deal of planning. And yet, Farrell conveys a sense of fluid immediacy with the sensitive and sketch-like quality of the forearms and hands. They dance together with strength, grace, and perpetual motion, while the background texture calls to mind both fingerprints and rippling water. Like fish gathered together and circling in a whirlpool, the hands engage in an animated, yet unspoken conversation. I see their vibrant, intertwined outlines as a representation of the vitality and connectedness of all living things."

Medium: Resist-ground etching, engraving
Dimensions: 25 x 40 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1930
Date finished: 2001
Edition: of 140

Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):

“Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.” - The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, by T.S. Eliot

"Peter Milton’s prints share many qualities with the poetry of T.S. Eliot: the grand scale, ghostly vignettes, shifting perspectives, and liminal worlds, as well as a penchant for subtle references to cats in their art. ‘Visions and Revisions’, the title of which is taken from a line in “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock”, portrays a party that appears to be in full swing with many figures dancing and socializing. However something in the scene is fractured; the figures are spread far apart, some fading into nothingness, and many staring directly out of the paper at you, the viewer. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” tells a story from the perspective of a shy and anxious man who is contemplating attending a party and all the dooms and horrors that will befall him there. I imagine that the viewer is Prufrock, all at once subjected to“the eternal Footman” who holds your hat and coat, among the people “who come and go/talking of Michelangelo,” all while being observed by the woman who is misunderstood and misunderstands you, saying “that is not what I meant at all.” Both the poem and this print convey a powerful sense of disorientation in the midst of frivolity. This print is a haunting and faithful translation of a touchstone modernist poem from verse into visual art."

Medium: Reclaimed wood monoprint, hand-cut paper, blind embossment and collage
Dimensions: 9 x 9 inches (Image/Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Korean / American, Pacific Northwest, 1971
Date finished: 2023
Edition: 1/1

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):

"Eunice Kim’s style and technique has evolved much over the years, but the natural spirit of her work and her commitment to using non toxic materials has only grown. In her new exhibition Currents & Tides, she uses reclaimed wood from a barn on her property to produce stark and natural woodcut prints. In Seedling (9) #1,  you can feel the energy and intention that Kim puts into the process of selecting the star pattern from the source print, and painstakingly cutting it out by hand with tiny scissors. Kim melds both natural and human history into a meditative harmony of birth, death, and rebirth."

Medium: Four-plate mezzotint
Dimensions: 4 x 5 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1948
Date finished: 2016
Edition: of 40

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

"This piece immediately grabbed my attention because of the rich color and perfect technique. But what keeps me looking is the regal, precious treatment of a humble apple. It strikes me as a perfectly lit, staged scene of a play with an apple as the protagonist. It's a scene that we'd never quite catch in our daily life either because it vanishes when we turn the lights on or because we don't revere the apple on our table as maybe we should. Either way, I'm glad that Jogo called my attention to it."

Medium: Intaglio
Dimensions: 14 x 30 inches (image)
Artist details: American , 1956
Date finished: 2002
Edition: 1/1

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Assistant):

"Tallmadge Doyle's cosmic and nature-inspired intaglio prints strike an elusive balance between whimsical and grave, simultaneously conveying the beauty of the world and the pressing issues of climate change. Her intaglio print Winter Always Turns to Spring beautifully encapsulates the dark uncertainty around the future of our earth, and its place in the universe, with a message of ever-present hope. The layered star-like and spherical shapes call to mind the swirling cosmos, while the concentration of bright tones in the center draw the viewer through the dark celestial entanglement. This serves as a reminder that whether we are stuck inside the darkness of an unusually long winter or a web of demoralizing information, the light is never far beyond reach."

Medium: Wood engraving
Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
Artist details: British, 1946
Edition: of 75

Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):

"There is magnificent energy and spirit in Colin See-Paynton’s wood engraving ‘Nocturnal Encounters - Barn Owl and Hare,’ in which predator and prey are caught in a cosmic struggle of life and death. The owl swoops majestically with deadly precision while the hare leaps into the sky with huge feet, and eyes wild with panic. The textures of the feather and fur are lifelike in their detail and stylized in contrast, owing to the expertise of Colin See-Paynton’s masterful technique. These two creatures soar in mythic opposition, their momentary scene played against the vault of the night sky."

Medium: Monotype
Dimensions: 22 1/8 x 17 inches
Artist details: American, Pacific Northwest, 1945
Date finished: 2016
Edition: 1/1

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Assistant):

"Jonelle Johnson uses thinned oil-based ink to layer transparent veils of color and brushstrokes to produce a sense of physical depth and movement in her vibrant monotypes. A great example of this is her piece aptly titled Cosmic Birds. The dynamic texture created by layers of contrasting colors and swirling lines captures the birds' frenetic movements so effectively, viewing the piece ignites a near-synesthetic experience. It feels like the birds are about to jump off the paper and I can hear the cacophony of their calls (which I enjoy as a bird lover). The relatively mellow and cool-toned color palette has a balancing quality which keeps the experience from being too jarring."

Medium: Etching
Dimensions: 5 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches (image)
Artist details: American, 1950
Date finished: 2007
Edition: of 30

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):

"Mary Farrell's etchings have an amazing precision and texture that make her imagery so visceral. In Identity, Farrell uses harsh contrast to cover the figure's shoulders and neck in highlights but shroud their face in shadows. I find so much mystery in the figure - the lack of context encourages anonymity but the face seems so specific, the pose is generic but hostile or at least uninviting, a cold but honest portrait. The title further mystifies me as I wonder how well I know this person from Farrell's image, or what really makes up an identity."

Medium: Drypoint
Dimensions: 10 1/4 x 7 3/4 inches
Signature: Signed. "Made in England" stamp lower right.
Artist details: English, 1886 - 1966
Date finished: 1931
Edition: 81/100
Reference: Appleby 143

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):

"Edmund Blampied’s masterful drypoint “Below Stairs” shows a wonderful familiarity between a chef and a maid in a British household.  The somewhat unkempt chef stands with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette hanging from his mouth as the maid listens intently, leaning on a broom. Between their feet stands a kitty asking politely for attention. The warmth of the drypoint adds to the overall mood of this vignette. Printed in the 1930’s, this image pays homage to the end of the era of upstairs-downstairs dynamics in the late aristocracy and wealthy family households."

Medium: Linocut
Dimensions: 10 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches (Image) 15 x 29 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Mexican
Date finished: 2019
Edition: of 33

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):

Mazatl, translated to ‘deer’, is a day in the Aztec calendar that is a good day to hunt and a bad day to be hunted. This contemporary artist uses woodcut and relief printmaking to advocate for environmental, political, and social justice. The level of detail Mazatl is able to achieve on this linocut print is incredible. He works every available surface with tiny cuts that delineate curves of spines, underwater flower petals, and hollow eye sockets. The mirrored image of the seahorse both alive and dead is attractive with its perfectly split composition and inverse imagery. This nearly two foot long print stares its viewer down, challenging them to think about extinction and its consequences, while simultaneously providing beautiful aesthetics.

Medium: Woodcut
Dimensions: 18 x 54 inches (image/sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1952
Date finished: 2007
Edition: of 16

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):

Karen Kunc's large evocative woodcuts are inspired by human relationships to nature and landscape. She brings elements from many cultures into her work, including Moorish, Spanish, and Japanese influences. Kunc is a master of woodcut and is distinguished from other artists by her innovations in the medium.  We look forward to her solo exhibition of artist books at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum next month.

Series: Monoprint/Monotype Invitational 2022
Medium: Watercolor monotype
Dimensions: 17 7/8 x 23 7/8 inches (Image) 22 5/8 x 30 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1961
Date finished: 2021
Edition: 1/1

Artist's statement:
"Backyard at Night is part of the series Night Shadows, inspired by late night walks through my Minneapolis neighborhood. The work addresses feelings of isolation brought on by the pandemic.

The prints were made by painting with black watercolor on a thin polyester plate, which was then printed on a press. Unlike oil monotypes, the image must be completely dry before being printed. This means that it can be developed over many hours, even days. I use additive and subtractive processes to make the images, putting down washes and marks that are allowed to dry before being lifted and revised by re-wetting the plate."

Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
"'Backyard at Night' beautifully captures a familiar scene, just off-kilter. It is a quintessential backyard: gutters, chain link fences and patio furniture. But everything is slightly misaligned and in high contrast against the dark of night. It's a striking piece that shows Kareken's wonderful, painterly handling of trees and textures in a new setting. It feels like a photo that no one would think to take but is around us all of the time."

Medium: Etching and aquatint
Dimensions: 15 3/4 x 23 1/2 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1957
Edition: of 35
Condition: Some creases at lower left away from image.

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):
"Starfish are symbolic of divine and endless love. These celestial beings sweep the background of Asahi’s highly technical etching. The little blue-eyed starfish serve as helpful and loving guides as the central female figure pours out the ocean from a shell as she sits on the back of a flying dragon. There is an energy to the piece, despite the artist including only tiny pops of color in the eyes and small details of each creature. Instead, linework and shape build the composition’s movement and playfulness. Each line etched into the plate is carefully scratched to give swirling loops to the water, striking contrast to the dragon scales, and delicate curves on the woman’s body. A visual boost of warm and energetic feelings."

Series: #46 from Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces (Rokujuyoshu Meisho Zue)
Medium: Woodblock
Dimensions: 15 x 10 inches (Oban)
Artist details: Japanese, 1797 - 1858
Date of plate: Date of Block 1853/1812
Condition: Very good early color. Margins skillfully restored.

Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):
"Of the magnificent “Famous Views of the Sixty-Odd Provences”, ‘Mimasake Provence. Yamabusi Valley’ displays a wonderful humor and humanity. We can all relate to the man chasing his hat that has flown away in a wind storm. Amongst this expertly preserved and restored series of breathtaking Japanese landscapes, ‘Mimasake Provence. Yamabusi Valley’ reminds us to appreciate the little misadventures that make life interesting."

Medium: Reduction woodcut
Dimensions: 8 x 10 inches (image)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: American, 1938
Date Finished: 1985
Edition: of 180

Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):
"Gordon Mortensen uses precise registration and his keen eye for layering color in this reduction woodcut. Mortensen prints a single color of ink; cuts away a small amount of wood; inks the same block in a different color, before cutting away more from the block; and repeating for as many different colors as the viewer can spot. This process can be daunting for many artists because once you cut the block, there is no going back. The result of Mortensen’s intense labor is a wide variety of texture and an expert build up of layers into atmospheric perspective that make for a stunning landscape."

Series: Friends
Medium: Intaglio and chine-collé
Dimensions: 6 x 4 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1960
Date finished: 2013
Edition: of 20

Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):
"Tomiyuki Sakuta’s haunting and dreamlike prints constantly shake me to my core and capture my imagination for hours. John 助運 is no different; It comes from a series of prints, Friends, in which Sakuta drew the faces of people from his first impression of their character. The eerie twisting of roots or fibers of John 助運 left me searching for a face among the disorder. Sakuta’s technique creates tactile lines that root me in my body, but in an image that unsettles and intrigues me."

Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: 14 x 10 inches (Image) 18 7/8 x 12 inches (Sheet)
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Welsh / English, 1864 - 1944
Date finished: 1901
Provenance: Exhibition: SAF 190, Goupil 1903
Condition: Good condition

Recommended by Catherine (Collections Assistant):
"I am captivated by the sitter in this Albert de Belleroche lithograph, La Toque Noire (The Black Hat). Belleroche's candid portrait of this early 20th century woman provides such a sensitive portrayal of her facial expression that the viewer can almost imagine what's on her mind- or at least is compelled to wonder. Despite her composed outward appearance, so much is contained in her far-off look. Is she simply day-dreaming out of boredom, or is she feeling a deep sense of ennui and disquiet? The rendering of her face is so nuanced that the viewer's own feelings easily influence their interpretation of her expression."

Medium: Woodblock
Dimensions: 20 7/8 x 15 inches
Signature: Signed
Artist details: Japanese, 1940
Date finished: 2004
Edition: of 30

Recommended by Emma (Marketing & Communications Manager):
"Aoki's work often focuses on human interaction and human connection - or lack thereof. Amidst his many works featuring crowds of busy people and missed connections, Aoki has delivered this beautiful portrayal of two figures facing each other, stopped in time. With emphatically oversized arms, the figures demonstrate the incredible intimacy and tenderness of simple human touch. Though the figures have no facial features, the piece evokes the disarming sensation of staring directly into someone else's eyes. All that cannot be explained about human emotion seems to rest in the quiet space created between them."