Yūgao (Evening Faces) from Tales of Genji – Artist's Proof Woodblock Print by Shizuo Nishizawa

Artist: Shizuo Nishizawa (西沢静男)
Title: Yūgao (Evening Faces) from Genji Onna Shō (源氏女人抄中 夕顔)
Medium: Woodblock print
Edition: Artist's Proof (A.P.)
Year: Circa 1970
Image Size: Please inquire.
Sheet Size: Please inquire.
Condition: Toning overall. A few tiny foxing dots. Other basic condition issues typically associated with 50+ yr old vintage prints.

Notes:
Rendered almost entirely in shades of black, grey, and white, this elegant composition demonstrates Shizuo Nishizawa's remarkable control of tone and line. The figure of Yūgao emerges quietly from sweeping bands of hair and softly modeled robes, creating an atmosphere that feels suspended between memory and dream.

The circular asanoha (hemp leaf) motifs woven through the kimono introduce a subtle geometric rhythm that contrasts beautifully with the flowing curves of the figure. Rather than illustrating a dramatic episode from The Tale of Genji, Nishizawa focuses on mood and presence, allowing the restrained palette and refined carving to convey the quiet melancholy associated with one of the novel's most memorable heroines.

The result is a print of exceptional calm—both contemporary in its graphic simplicity and deeply rooted in classical Japanese literary tradition.

Keywords: Shizuo Nishizawa, 西沢静男, Yūgao, Evening Faces, 源氏女人抄, Tale of Genji, Japanese woodblock print, sosaku hanga, artist's proof, monochrome print, modern Japanese art