Zao Wou-Ki 　Sans Titre

Etching and aquatint, 1989

Edition: 45/99

Published by: Polígrafa (Barcelona)

Printed by: Polígrafa (Barcelona)

Catalogue raisonné: Agerup 339

Image size: 54.20 × 39.00 cm
Sheet size: 56.00 × 75.00 cm

Signed by the artist in pencil
Comes with a certificate of authenticity
In good condition

This work is held by our partner gallery in France. While the condition is deemed good by local (French) standards, the criteria for evaluating the condition of aged items may differ between France and Japan. Please consider your purchase with an understanding of the signs of use due to aging (stains, discoloration, folds, wrinkles, tanning, etc.) typical of vintage items. We have not inspected the actual item. The work is currently stored in France, and delivery after your order will take at least two weeks. Due to the nature of the work, returns after purchase are not accepted.

Artwork Description

Created in 1989, this piece is one of the representative print expressions of Zao Wou-Ki's mature period. A light and fluid atmosphere pervades the entire composition, where colors and empty spaces delicately resonate, creating a quiet poetic sensibility.

From the softly溶け込む yellow background, forms reminiscent of earth's roots or natural life emerge quietly. They exist without clear outlines, appearing and disappearing, evoking diverse landscapes in the viewer's imagination.

This work strongly reflects the spirituality akin to traditional Chinese painting techniques, especially "ink wash" (水墨) and "splashed ink" (潑墨). The thinly layered colors show a natural spread, as if water permeates paper, integrating an oriental sense of breathing and the beauty of empty space into Western printmaking techniques.

In the late 1980s, Zao Wou-Ki moved towards a simpler and more refined abstract expression, shedding forms to their bare minimum, striving to depict light, atmosphere, and space itself. In this work, the subtle vibrations of light colors and soft gradations create a world filled with stillness and spiritual depth.