Meditating Monk – Contemporary Japanese Woodblock Print – Michael Fiorella

Artist: Michael Fiorella
Title: Quiet Monk
Medium: Woodblock print on Japanese paper
Edition: Artist's Proof (A.P.)
Year: 2017
Image size: 12 × 8 cm
Paper size: A5 (14.8 × 21 cm)
Condition: Excellent condition. Pencil signed and dated by the artist with artist's red seal.

Notes:
A quietly expressive contemporary woodblock depicting a meditating monk reduced to a handful of graceful carved lines. Eyes closed and hands joined in prayer, the figure embodies stillness, humility, and inward contemplation. The simplicity of the composition reflects the influence of Japanese Buddhist imagery while remaining distinctly modern in its reduction of form.

Printed entirely by hand in the spirit of sōsaku hanga, the rich black robe contrasts with the open white paper, allowing negative space to become an active part of the composition. Intimate in scale, Meditating Monk invites moments of quiet reflection and exemplifies the expressive possibilities of minimalist woodblock printmaking.

Keywords: Michael Fiorella, Meditating Monk, contemporary woodblock print, Japanese woodblock, sosaku hanga, Buddhist art, Zen art, meditation print, minimalist print, hand printed woodblock, signed Japanese print