Catalog (279)

I first saw this print in a small pamphlet from White Lotus Gallery in Oregon, acquired the print in ways that Du Yuesheng would be proud of and it has rested here for over two years It is a small print but it packs a punch. It shows a prancing dancing woman. What do you think? The kanji in the center of the print is set off by a tear at the left and a sun at the right. It measures 5.75” x 8.5”.

This is a surprisingly good kanji It was done in 1972,slightly beyond Haku Maki's core period for such small kanji. It is the character for Mu or Nothing It is a very abstract depiction of the character, more so than most of Maki’s rendering of Nothing, which he did many times. This image is sharp and concise and it has drive. It has the Maki style and balance:a seal and the bottom margin. The seal at the right is balanced off by the splash at the left

This is a brilliant example of Haku Maki's Big Red prints, his frequent use of a large red character on a black background.

Haku Maki's Poem Z depicts a Heart by any other name. Maki began to use this theme early in his artistic life. The character was often vertical but this is the only time it was at an angle from the center and seemingly lacking in one stroke, Hence it is an unusual design and intellectually challenging. Its meaning is not immediately evident even to the literati. My curator in Beijing figured it out when she was opening the package and tilted it a bit. The print is large and subtle. This is Poem Z. As such it is the last in the Maki alphabet series of 1967.

Haku Maki did these huge prints from 1970 to 1973. This is Poem Reconciliation done in 1970. It is a big image; it boldly flows across the paper. It is clean not busy, dramatic and elegant. It is from an edition of 50. I have only ever seen this one number of the edition. It has a dazzling yellow sun and sharp red tear that balance the kanji in the center. It is signed and chopped and re-signed in black ink next to the chop. Everything clicks. It is 35in x 35in.

In 1966 Haku Maki produced one of his many abstract series. He did Cell and he did Proportion Here I show Proportion 10 the white strokes appear against a beautiful yellow background . Above the strokes is a white Sun. Wow there are two Maki seals one at the top right and another at the lower left There is a red splash in the center .two images f Proportion 9 are added where are Proportion 1 through 8? 43/50

4 ivory 4000 big 3500 small @ 1800

This is a rare Maki production--a book plate.

mysterious piece h 5.5 w 8 d 4

In 1970 the famous collector of Japanese art Felix Juda commissioned Haku Maki to produce at least 3 different sets of cards for greeting and thanks. Here we show three. The 4th image may have been one such card or a small print. I have owned it for many years and am still studying it. The ones done for Juda varied in attractiveness. The green one is vintage Maki: good design, good color, and good composition. It is only 5”x 5” but packs a wallop. It shows the kanji for Stone (pronounced To in Japanese) with a small yellow sun added for oomph It is the functional equivalent of a splash. The balance and integrity of the print are clear. The other Juda collection images vary from bizarre to plain. The one with four different images includes a pair of pursed lips, an eye and what? The other shows what I think can be a fishhook. How many other images did Maki do for Juda? Felix Juda collected many works by the famous Onchi Koshiro who of course was Maki’s first and only teacher. The student honored the teacher by doing this series for the teacher’s fan, Juda. I believe all were done in or about 1970. They have the style of that year even as they were not dated. The little blue at the right is also untitled; it may have been done for Juda too It shows a crescent moon and two kanji -- nice balance, nice composition. The last 3 may also be from the Juda Collection but I am not certain. Juda (1909 – 1997) was a senior investment director of Sutro & Co. of Los Angeles , where he was born and died.

In 1971 Haku Maki produced two large prints, one Sun and one Moon. Sun shows a dramatic sun with a red dash all surrounded by a gold field-- Poem 71-100. Poem 72-101 is Moon with a similar design. There is a dark spot in the center. Each print was produced in editions of 156. This pair was offered privately and on eBay by a very insightful seller from Tennessee. After these presumably successful runs Maki did a smaller pair, each with the same title and same design. Both Sun and Moon are surrounded by a fiery corona. The seller’s offerings were rare sightings;the small one from my collection is also quite rare. copyright 2014 daniel tretiak

This is a rustic brushpot a farmer in rural Hubei carved this out of a tree trunk. He spotted the branch at the right and decided not to trim it Hence this pot has a handle. Its skin is old and patinated. It is a charming pot. It dates from the 19th century.

Big Green shows 4 moving figures.A similar image is in the US in the kas frane but it is 3 moving figures. I think these were not frequent uses for Maki Poem 71-84

Haku Maki Poem 71-25 63/100 This print is the cover image of my book ,The life and works of Haku Maki I have never offered it for sale. the Front edicts Maki’s rendering of I or Me It is a bold big Red the red is embossed on a black ink field this print is 20 ‘ x 30” after being restored in the US by Michael Minckler it is in very good shape there is a crease on the front only visible from the back The print has great red kanji. Placed in a huge matte and framed it will stand out in any home. There have been no copies on sale for a number of years. Sold as is where is. Please ask for any additional information Thanks! Sold with signed certificate of authenticity. SHIPPING: All buyers should pay $100 for insured EMS USPS express shipping. But I will pay $50. RETURNS: Accepted within 7 Days of receipt should the description of the print not be accurate. Since my descriptions are as detailed as possible (see feedback), “buyer remorse” is not an acceptable reason to return the print. If you are uncertain about any information I’ve posted, please ask prior to purchasing. If returned, buyer pays return shipping and refund is for cost of print only. Print must be returned in same condition.

The big red Poem 71–74 is a rarely seen Maki Big Red. It shows a three-character phrase from Daoist literature 心善渊 “Heart like a deep pool, clear and calm, not affected by external environment.” As depicted by Maki, it is a stunning print. It was seen electronically but once in the past decade. It is coming back to Asia with a big red roar. It is embossed, the red design surrounded by black ink, and is typical of a short period in Maki’s life—the early 1970s—when he did such dramatic prints. This big red has it all—pink splash on the kanji, a blue dash above the black field and a black sun below the red field.

Japan Haku Maki 1965 or so Cell B This is a very early Maki print . He did it no later than 1966 it depicts many cells of a human all done very explicitly and clearly Cell was an early Maki theme He used it less than a dozen times the cells must have been busy re-creating themselves But here they seem calm and static Embossed z

Figure 1 is a dark and brooding big red just received so dark even out of frame and matte maki s first big red appeared in 1963 this is an abstract rendering of the kanji for woman she seems to be standing there swaying ever so slowly this print has a good green blue sun at the upper left Here no splashes yet to add color figure 3 figure 3 here figure 4 alsom here