Nihonga-style Modern Art Lithograph-Limited Edition-Fighting Cats-Hideo Date

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Description

Hideo Date (1907-2005) was a pioneer Japanese American modern artist that was overlooked in the majority of his career, partially due to the disruption of World War II, during which he was incarcerated along with 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps. Only in the last few years in his life, his works began to gain wide appreciation for his attempts of bridging traditional Japanese Nihonga style with western modern art.

The original drawing for this print was executed in circa 1943, when Date was in Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming. He continued his art practice and taught art in the cam, though his style became most monochromatic – which was in sharp contrast to his pre- and post- war styles. In this era, Date’s major theme was cats – which, interpreted by some art critics, reflected his innate pursuit of freedom. In my eyes, this particular work of two interlocked fighting cats is a symbol of unsolvable dilemmas in life that I believe everyone could more or less relate to. Nevertheless, this print, with its meticulous line work and idealized forms, is a great example of the incorporation of traditional Japanese art into modern art.

In 1999, Date donated most of his work in collection to Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles. Based on these works, in 2001, JANM ran a major retrospective exhibition: “Living in Color, The Art of Hideo Date”.

The impression is overall in good condition with strong lines and intact corners and edges. The warm-toned Arches paper showed minor coloration due to its age. The back of the paper has some tape marks from previous mounting.

Print Details

Size: 27 × 21.75 in

Technique: Lithograph

Paper: Arches paper (with Arches watermark)

Condition: Good – strong impression, minor coloration, tape marks on the back, unframed

Provenance

Auction at Showplace, NYC

Inscriptions

Lower left: 102/120 (pencil)

Lower right: Hideo Date (pencil, with press stamp with Chinese/Japanese characters)

Back: 59702 (Pencil)