Title : Before Singing - Madame Talia Savanieva

Artist : Obata Chiura

Date : 1930

Details : More information...

Source : Japanese Art Open Database
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Description : Artist: Chiura Obata Title: Before Singing - Madame Talia Savanieva Print Type: Original Japanese Woodblock Print Series Title: World Landscape Series Edition No: First and only Date: 1930 Publisher: Takamizawa Color-Print Studio, Tokyo Reference No: # 1 in the series of 35 prints Size: 15-3/4 x 11" (image); 18 x 13 " (paper) Madame Talia Savanieva was the Diva of the San Francisco Opera in 1924. The Conductor, Mr. Merola, asked Obata to design the scenery for the 1924 production of Madame Butterfly. He agreed, and during the production, Obata became well acquainted with Madame Savanieva, painting her portrait. The painting was used as the model for this woodblock print. Begun in 1928 when Obata visited Japan, the World Landscape Series took 18 months to complete. The project required the work of 32 block carvers and 40 printers with each print requiring from 100 to as many as 160 impressions in order to accurately replicate Obata's original watercolors. The folio consisted of 35 colored woodblock prints. All but one show California scenes, and 27 are views of Yosemite and the High Sierra. It is believed that 100 folios were sent to the artist. Not all of the prints were signed and sealed. Each print has the publishers name stamped on the reverse. The folder illustration shows the publisher's watermark, visible below the title slip. The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco has a full set of progressive proofs for this design, totaling 138! PRINTS BY OBATA IN FINE CONDITION, EXHIBITING FRESH COLORS, AS WITH THESE, ARE RARE.

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