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WAKO ITO Japan 1945 -  Mezzotints

Wako Ito was born in 1945 in the mountain district of Sapporo. In his early 20's he was awarded a prize in the Zendo Exhibition, and in 1968 studied at the Academia Dessin in Italy, appearing in the Pistoia Biennale before returning to Japan in 1971. Ito became a modern master in Mezzo-tint - a printing technique to enables half tones by using small dots instead of the usual etching methods of hatching, cross-hatching or shading. Ito's expert application of this innovative technique has gained him an international reputation; his favourite subjects are still life studies of flowers and fruit  that  have been exhibited in Europe, America and Asia. These exquisitely detailed prints exhibit jewel like details that are particularly difficult to achieve with mezzo-tint - a single ripe pear with a leaf hanging down one side, an orange portrayed in a dark room so that the fruit is reflected on the table on which it sits., a tiny glowing oil lantern in soft monochromatic shades..

 

 

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