Laura G, Sassy 70’s

By Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), Gravemarker Moon, 1886, color woodblock print. As a print, it appears in many collections, both public and private. This image is from the British Museum, London. #arthistory #art #printmaking #woodblockprints #japaneseart

From the University of Oregon, The Lavenberg Collection of Japanese Prints: “The old woman seated on the fallen grave marker is the celebrated beauty and poetess Ono no Komachi (9th century). Komachi lost her beauty, position, and wealth, but after wandering destitute for many years, gained enlightenment.”

One of Komachi’s poems:

“The autumn night
is long only in name—
We’ve done no more
than gaze at each other
and it’s already dawn.”

Translated by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Arantani

By Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975), “Ozark Autumn, 1949, oil and tempera on board, 20 ¾ × 32 inches (52.7 × 81.3 cm), photo: Christie's New York, 21 May 2015. #arthistory #painting #oilpainting #art

From the lot essay: ‘Benton’s sympathetic depictions of the toiling farmer are perhaps his most celebrated works. Much like his iconic painting July Hay (1943, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), Ozark Autumn offers an idyllic view of the American way of life. Matthew Baigell writes, “In many ways, though, his more remarkable achievements are the landscapes of this period. In these, it would appear that Benton’s overwhelming love of America found its true outlet—in the streams, hills, and the mountains of the country, populated by people unsuspectingly living out their time, quietly enjoying themselves, living easily on the land, celebrating nothing more than their existence.” (Thomas Hart Benton, New York, 1973, p. 183)‘