The Wayward Muse 15 Original Miniature Wood-Engravings
Doi, Isami
Honolulu, Hawaii: Private Edition, 1952. (4) printed pages of text; followed by 15 plate sheets, each with a pencil-signed etching by Isami Doi, (1903-1965) Hawaiian-born painter, craftsperson, engraver, block printer, lived in New York City until 1938, studying at Columbia University after attending U.H. and also studying in Paris. Exhibited at the important Salons of the time, with many appearances of his work at the Honolulu Academy of Fine Arts, MoMA, American Artists Congress, PAFA, others. His work can be found in the collections of Dartmouth College, Honolulu Academy, MMA, and the Albright Art. Gallery; a WPA artist in New York City, he was one of the earliest native Hawaiians to achieve international renown in the 20th century; he returned to Hawaii where he taught printmaking, drawing and metalwork; Doi also designed jewelry for Gumps and Mings. (WWW in American Art 1999); The title page with the affectionate artist's inscription presentation: "To Balcomb and Gertrude Love & Admiration Isami 1954"; "Balcomb & Gertrude" refers to Balcomb Greene (1904-1990) painter, teacher, writer, editor, WPA artist, whose works are in the collections of MoMA, WMAA, MMA, Guggenheim Museum, many other institutions and collections, began painting in 1931 while living in Paris with his wife Gertrude (Glass) Greene, work began to become totally abstract by 1935, taught at Dartmouth and at the Carnegie Inst. Technology (WWW in American Art 1999); each etching is approximately 3" x 3", printed on Japan tissue and laid-down to its own cardstock backer, each signed below the image in pencil by the artist and each cardstock page numbered in pencil in the right corner; the printed text has a corresponding list of poetic and somewhat surreal musings for each of the pieces of art, eg. # 10 "Somewhere there is a mountain called Parnassus where you and I must go anon and oft. & # 14 "Once I grew happily in the sun. Now in a vase of water, without a prayer, without a song. Clumsy hands caress my waning cheeks, and when my frail petals fall, the birds in the meadows have already returned to their nests." and more in a similar vein, reflecting the artists' feeling about each piece; anecdotal evidence suggests that this portfolio was created after the death of Doi's son, he being one of the dedicatees (the other dedicatee, Albert W. Heckman, was one of Doi's artistic mentors in Paris); the artwork is superbly done, with incredible detail and showing Doi's terrific mastery of light and dark in his delicate work; text section and all card sheets laid-in to a simple red cardstock fold-over cover, contained in a black cardstock slipcase with (faint) gilt titles; some edge, tips wear to the case and the folder; occasional light spot to the cardstock mounts; all images superb, wonderful examples of this Hawaiian printmaster's best work; overall, artworks in very good plus condition and especially nice as inscribed to his friend and fellow artist Balcomb Greene. Very Good H (Item ID: 18838)
$3,500.00
