Accession Number
2011/2.26

Title
Kuroneko to shojo (Black Cat and Girl)

Artist(s)
Nakayama Tadashi

Object Creation Date
1973

Medium & Support
color woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
21 5/8 in. x 31 1/4 in. ( 54.93 cm x 79.38 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Sheila and Ronnie Cresswell

Subject matter
Nakayama’s works can be divided into three periods; the first (early) period from 1955-1964, the second (middle) period from 1965-1968, and the third (late) period from 1969 to his last painting. In the first period, the common theme is horses. Moreover, he began experimenting with portraying girls, although the girls aren’t as developed and controlled as in later periods. He began portraying butterflies of different colors and sizes, he experimented with architecture, and he painted in most brown and green shades. The second period, he developed a new theme where he started portraying the horses with flowers, mostly pansies and poppies, and butterflies. The background colors also became lighter than in the first period. During this period he became more comfortable and controlled with his work; there is greater depth and motion on the page. In the third period, the subject of the prints mostly portrays a girl and he starts to use more complicated patterns and colors. He also gained a greater mastery over showing perspective.

Physical Description
A girl with her head and body in profile, her brown hair is highlighted with white and gold strands, and bordering her face are gold curls. she is wearing a long-sleeved shirt with orange, blue, white, and brown swirls. In her arms in front of her is a frontal view of a black cat.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Felis domesticus (species)
girls
prints (visual works)
profiles (figures)