Accession Number
2011/2.40

Title
Guncho (Group of Butterflies)

Artist(s)
Nakayama Tadashi

Object Creation Date
1978

Medium & Support
color woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
3 3/4 in. x 9 in. ( 9.53 cm x 22.86 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 black hair is highlighted with white and brown strands, white and red columns of dots, and brown curls bordering her face. There is a brown, green, blue and white butterfly in her hair and she is wearing a brown shirt. Beside her is a large brown, blue, and green butterfly with abstract designs. There are smaller butterflies periodically placed around the brown background of the print.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
butterflies (general)
color prints (prints)
girls
groups of animals
profiles (figures)