A very dynamic image by Kaoru Kawano of Kannon (known in Chinese as Guanyin, Bodhisattva and the goddess of mercy and compassion. Kannon is believed to appear in 33 images and often is pictured as a many-armed deity. Sealed and pencil signed by the artist in the lower right corner.
The Woodblock Print
This oban-sized woodblock is in excellent condition; margins intact, a clean verso, strong colors. Clean margins and a clean verso. Some overall and even toning to the paper.
About the Artist
Kaoru Kawano was a Japanese printmaker who worked during the Showa period (河野薫, 1926-1989). Born in Hokkaido in 1916, Kawano studied at Kawabata Art School during the 1930s. He gained an international his reputation through successful solo exhibitions in North America and elsewhere. His prints frequently depict children and animals, combining Western-style elements with the tradition of woodblock printmaking. Kawano’s works are also appreciated for the way in which they incorporate the woodgrain of the block into the design.
