Lotus

Etching and/or drypoint on thin wove Japan paper.

Reference: Czestochowski (?).

Dedicated “To Anne B Hardin” in pencil, this probably was a New Year’s etching, given to friends. No edition of this etching seems to have printed.

The lotus flower, a symbol of purity and enlightenment in Japanese culture and art, had made an esthetic impression on Jaques, who admired Japanese printmaking. While she only printed in color on rare occasions, Jaques adopted the stylized and sinuous lines of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints (color woodcuts). Nature, with close-up depictions of plants in particular, form one of her main sources of inspiration. The drama in this composition is accentuated by the selected plate tone, lighter in the center, darker in the corners, as if a spotlight were shining on the plant in the center.

Signed, titled, dedicated, and dated in pencil.

A band of brown tape about 1/8 of an inch wide runs around the sheet’s edges, away from the image. There is also minor damage in the top corners. Both condition issues unobtrusive once the print is matted.