White Head Eagle
This design by Hamanishi Katsunori, a modern master of the European mezzotint technique, was commissioned by the Print Club of Cleveland to make this dramatic design featuring a kimono hung upon a rack. The image of a white-tailed eagle spreading its wings over pine-laden islands refers to the famous Japanese scenic spot of Matsushima.
Over a long and distinguished career of over three decades, Hamanishi Katsunori has focused almost exclusively on the production of mezzotint prints. Mezzotints are known for a dark and atmospheric appearance as the technique requires the creation of a roughened surface, which produces a solid black, velvety background when printed. To create the image, the artist utilizes an array of “rockers” (berceau), scrapers, and burnishers. The deepest gouges in the copper plate will appear as white areas on the finished print.
Over a long and distinguished career of over three decades, Hamanishi Katsunori has focused almost exclusively on the production of mezzotint prints. Mezzotints are known for a dark and atmospheric appearance as the technique requires the creation of a roughened surface, which produces a solid black, velvety background when printed. To create the image, the artist utilizes an array of “rockers” (berceau), scrapers, and burnishers. The deepest gouges in the copper plate will appear as white areas on the finished print.
Artwork Details
- 松島に鷲図
- Title: White Head Eagle
- Artist: Hamanishi Katsunori 浜西勝則 (Japanese, born 1949)
- Period: Heisei period (1989–2019)
- Date: 2016
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Mezzotint print; color on Japanese Mat Thunders wove paper
- Dimensions: Image: 19 9/16 × 14 3/16 in. (49.7 × 36 cm)
Sheet: 23 9/16 × 17 5/8 in. (59.8 × 44.7 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of John T. Carpenter, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.396.4
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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