Wake Shiro — "Snow Mask" A striking, ghostly Noh mask (Sold)

This piece has found its home. It is kept here as a record of what has passed through our hands.

Titled "Yuki no Ko-omote (Snow Mask)" , this evocative watercolor painting by the late master Shiro Wake depicts a ghostly Noh mask emerging from a wash of cool, layered colors. The face, likely representing a Ko-omote mask—a symbol of youthful femininity in Noh theater—is rendered with soft, translucent tones of blue, white, and violet. This composition creates an ethereal, poetic ambiance, blurring the line between presence and absence, realism and illusion. Signed and sealed by the artist, the piece is affixed with a gallery authentication label (-) on the reverse and presented in a textured, gold-hued frame that enhances its spiritual and mysterious character.

Size:

Artwork: 24 × 27 cm
Frame: 38.5 × 57.5 cm

Material:

Watercolor on paper – This piece is executed in watercolor on traditional paper, as suggested by the painting's texture, technique, and the use of absorbent paper suited for layered washes and subtle tonality.

Artist Profile:

Shiro Wake (, 1925–1988) was born in Tochigi Prefecture and studied oil painting under Sotaro Yasui at the Tokyo University of the Arts. A member of the Dokuritsu Bijutsu Kyokai (Independent Art Association), he won the Dokuritsu Prize in both 1957 and 1958 and was admitted as a full member in 1959. Deeply affected by the war and personal illness, Wake’s works are steeped in themes of impermanence and spiritual depth. His meeting with Noh theater profoundly influenced his art, leading to a series of fantastical and haunting paintings of Noh masks and moss-covered temples. Blending realism with mysticism, Wake created a unique painterly language characterized by delicate melancholia and psychological depth.

NOITICE:

The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally.
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
These charges are the buyer's responsibility.

Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping.

I appreciate your cooperation.

Sold — no longer available.