[Ink and watercolor painting of Japanese village scene]

[Ink and watercolor painting of Japanese village scene]

Watercolor painting--United States--20th century. [LCSH]
Japan--civilization--20th century. [LCSH]
Japan--civilization--pictorial works [LCSH]
Japanese in art [LCSH]

Watercolor and ink piece depicting a street scene in a Japanese town. A figure is depicted riding a bicycle along a deserted street next to a sidewalk. He is approaching the street corner and we cannot tell whether he will turn or carry on the road he's on now. At the edge of the sidewalk is a crumbling wall, painted in hues of yellow and green. Bricks and rubble appear to spill from the wall, and on the other side of the wall are dilapidated buildings in muted yellows and gray-blues; sometimes there is only the vaguest impression of color. The buildings vary in height and state of decay. Roofs are varying shades, from steel-gray to baby-blue and pink. The figure on the bicycle is wearing a red cape or cloak and a red traditional Japanese hat. Many of the details in this work are simply implied; for example, the figure on the bike has no visible legs, but we must assume that he is propelling the bicycle forward with them nonetheless. Lines are not always closed and colors are not always enclosed within the lines, leading to a dreamlike quality. It's possible this is a representation of a Japanese village after a bombing, but the street and sidewalk appear to be in good repair, so that's purely speculative. The sky in this image is left unpainted. The watercolor paper is medium-weight, deckled, and likely cold-pressed.

Gillett, Janice

1966-1973?

All rights held by Acacia Williams

Medium: ink and watercolor on paper

Extent: 34.7 x 23 cm

Physical object

JG_0018