Paul Binnie

Scottish, b. 1967

Snow, Moon and Flowers in Downtown Tokyo: Complete Set of Three 90/100

the series title Shitamachi setsugekka on the upper right margin is followed by the print title, Asakusa no yuki (Snow at Asakusa); Shinobazu no tsuki (Moon over Shinobazu); and Ueno no Sakura (Cherry Blossoms at Ueno), respectively; each signed within the composition, Bin-ni with red artist's seal BINNIE, and pencil signed on the bottom margin, 90/100 Paul Binnie, 1998

each approximately 16 1/2 by 11 3/4 in., 42 by 30 cm

These three prints are from the artist's first landscape series, Shitamachi setsugekka (Snow, Moon and Flowers in Downtown Tokyo), which he produced for a solo exhibition held at the Tokyo American Club in 1998. The series references the classic trio of 'snow, moon and flowers' from a poem by Bai Juyi (772-846) which is included in the anthology Wa-Kan roei shu (734). The grouping of the three subjects together is a popular motif or construct utilized frequently throughout Japanese art and literature. The prints were very well received, the nocturnal 'Moon Over Shinobazu' has long-since sold out and the artist's inventory of the remaining two designs is dwindling. As these were produced quite early in the artist's career, this is the only complete numbered set available.

Reference:
Paul Binnie: A Dialogue with the Past - The First 100 Japanese Prints, 2007, nos. 58-60

Provenance: Private American Collector

(inv. no. C-3244)

price: Sold