Light, Texture and Solitude: The Art of Tanaka Ryohei

Tanaka Ryohei (b. 1933) has established himself as Japan's foremost etcher. His works combine an immaculate eye for form with intense concentration on visual detail. Tanaka never fails to capture and convey the material quality and texture of his subject matter, whether it is the rough and cracked bark of a pine tree or the graininess of a wooden board. Rich, velvety ink tones, stark whites, deep blacks--sometimes accompanied by vivid touches of color--combine to make images that evoke feelings of quiet solitude.