[Femme au masque japonais]

Printed on wove japon paper. Signed and annotated "Couleurs 2/2 du 4e Etat" in pencil. This image is an intriguing example of Japonisme, the influence of Japanese arts on Western Culture in the 19th century. The mask is obviously based on an example from Noh Theater. The colors are also evocative of the pastel colors of Japanese woodcuts and of the basic colors used in colored carved ivory from Japan. The contrast of the mask with a blond, blue-eyed woman makes for an eerily appealing composition.