Paul Binnie, Hokusai's waterfall, One Hundred Shades of Ink of Edo

Blending traditional methods with a modern style, Paul Binnie is working mostly under the influence of Shin-hanga movement, founded by the publisher Shozaburo Watanabe (1885-1962). Shozaburo was aiming to renew declining Ukiyo-e tradition and break into foreign markets by commissioning new, young artists who would work within the old co-operated system, composed of the publisher, artist, engraver and printers. However, Paul makes his own prints from beginning to the end by himself, as was done by artists of another post-war movement: Sosaku hanga.

He mostly works in several subjects such as Kabuki, tattoo, landscape and beauty prints. His original plan had been to stay in Japan less than he actually did but once he started to sell his Kabuki prints, he decided to expand his technique more and has created works of this subject until 1998 in Japan. His interest in Japanese tattoo was born when he saw Yakuza, members of the Japanese mafia who traditionally have body tattoos, bathing for the first time in a sento (Japanese-style public bath). He is still working on a series of woodblock prints of this theme. Near the end of 1997, he began to do Japanese landscape prints and these became a huge success.

The model is shown with water falling on his back, the spray of which is represented with hand-applied gofun. The theme is continued in Binnie’s seal, which this time represents a man in a barrel amongst waves (connecting to the idea of going over a waterfall in a barrel) made from the letters of the artist’s name.

Hokusai’s waterfall series is a masterpiece of his. Designed by the artist when he was in his seventies, it depicts a selection of eight waterfalls that are located all-over Japan.