Kishin Shinoyama: Nude, Portfolio of 10 Extra-Large Prints

This is a complete extra large sized portfolio entitled “Kishin Shinoyama: Nude” published by Chikuma Shobo, Tokyo in 1971 that is volume 2 of the Chikuma Photo Gallery series of portfolios of great Japanese photographers. A total of 8 portfolios were issued the others being Hiroshi Hamaya, Yoshikazu Shirakawa, Yoichi Midorikawa Taikichi Irie, Yoshihiro Tatsuki, Ikko Narahara, and Eikoh Hosoe. The photographs contained in the portfolio are primarily from his critically acclaimed photobook, “Nude” published by Mainichi Publishing, Tokyo in 1970. Ryuichi Kaneko and Ivan Vartanian in their reference work on Japanese Photobooks, “Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and 70s” provide an excellent critique, ”Shinoyama totally changed the look of the nude model …In his photobook, “Nudes” he shot in the wide-open vistas of America’s desert land, a terrain with a scope inconceivable in Japan, he eschews all narrative structure in a totally image-driven body of photography. The strong light and Shinoyama’s framing made the grounds surface resemble the surface of the moon – a moon populated by nude women … needless to say, it had a particularly strong impact on young photographers and drew great attention and praise for its challenging images of the female form.”

The portfolio is an incredible production that consists of 10 individual mechanically reproduced gravure prints (8 black-and-white and 2 color) measuring 23.5” x 16.5” that are contained in a black stiff paper portfolio with printed labels on the front and rear. The prints are housed inside the portfolio in an envelope that includes the prints as well as a title page, biography page, and a blank cardboard insert to protect the prints. The portfolio itself is housed in a protective vinyl envelope. Based on the size of the portfolio and the number of components, there are usually substantial condition issues with the portfolio. The prints are in fantastic condition and the images are fresh and crisp. One of the photographs has a small fingerprint mark on the lower right edge. The portfolio case has some minor rubs. The black title sheet in the portfolio has some minor soiling and the inside cardboard of the portfolio case has some print offset. The resealable vinyl protective covering has some sunburning, wrinkling, and tears. Overall, the portfolio is in excellent condition and is considered a superior example of this title that is quite scarce and rarely found complete.

Photographs of the front and back of the portfolio case, the envelope housing the prints and the title sheet, examples of the prints (please see the fifth photograph to see the fingerprint mark mentioned above), and close-ups of the front and rear portfolio labels appear in the photo section of the listing.