Clifton Karhu

(American, 1927–2007)

America

Color woodcut

Image: 40.7 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.); Sheet: 46 x 55.2 cm (18 1/8 x 21 3/4 in.)

Gift of the Estate of Stanton and Jean Macdonald-Wright 2021.152.22

Edition: edition of 50

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

The artist wrote of the works in this portfolio: “I have attempted to pictorialize these haiku psychologically and thus complete the verses by making the illustrations as modern as the verses will always remain.”

Description

Modernist painter Stanton Macdonald-Wright developed the Haiga Portfolio out of his admiration for haiga, the traditional art of haiku illustration. Produced in Japan using the traditional Japanese printmaking technique (ukiyo-e), the artist challenged the typically minimalist, black-and-white approach to haiku illustration. While many of the works in the portfolio employ the lively colors and patterns of Synchromism—an art movement MacDonald-Wright founded in 1910 seeking to apply color theory to music and rhythm—others are more contemplative, while still retaining a connection to abstract modernist optics.

Inscriptions

Inscription

Red ink stamp, recto, lower left

Inscription

Written in pencil on recto: "20. The sound of a cracked temple bell is also hot under a summer moon. Hokuski 7/50 1966-67"

Clifton Karhu

Works in "Sosaku hangu" style, making woodblock prints of typical Japanese scenes, often old Japanese houses or details taken from old houses, especially those of Kyoto.

Provenance

1967–73

Stanton Macdonald-Wright (the artist) [189-1973]

1973-2021

(Macdonald-Wright Estate)

September 6, 2021

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH