Before Singing - Madame Talia Savanieva
by Obata Chiura (1885-1975)

	Artist:	Obata Chiura (1885-1975)
	Title:	Before Singing - Madame Talia Savanieva
	Series:	World Landscape Series
	Date of first edition?:	1930
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Takamizawa — 高見沢
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Takamizawa — 高見沢
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Large Oban
	Format (this edition):	Oban
	DB artwork code:	42086
	Notes (first edition)?:	Artist: Chiura Obata Title: Before Singing - Madame Talia Savanieva Print Type: Original Japanese Woodblock Print Series Title: World Landscape Series Edition No: First and only Date: 1930 Publisher: Takamizawa Color-Print Studio, Tokyo Reference No: # 1 in the series of 35 prints Size: 15-3/4 x 11" (image); 18 x 13 " (paper) Madame Talia Savanieva was the Diva of the San Francisco Opera in 1924. The Conductor, Mr. Merola, asked Obata to design the scenery for the 1924 production of Madame Butterfly. He agreed, and during the production, Obata became well acquainted with Madame Savanieva, painting her portrait. The painting was used as the model for this woodblock print. Begun in 1928 when Obata visited Japan, the World Landscape Series took 18 months to complete. The project required the work of 32 block carvers and 40 printers with each print requiring from 100 to as many as 160 impressions in order to accurately replicate Obata's original watercolors. The folio consisted of 35 colored woodblock prints. All but one show California scenes, and 27 are views of Yosemite and the High Sierra. It is believed that 100 folios were sent to the artist. Not all of the prints were signed and sealed. Each print has the publishers name stamped on the reverse. The folder illustration shows the publisher's watermark, visible below the title slip. The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco has a full set of progressive proofs for this design, totaling 138! PRINTS BY OBATA IN FINE CONDITION, EXHIBITING FRESH COLORS, AS WITH THESE, ARE RARE.
	Notes (this edition)?:	The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies: Tuesday, 22 December 2009 Artist Name: Chiura Obata Title: Madame Talia Savanieva Medium: Original Japanese woodblock print Year: 1930 Publisher: Takamizawa Color-Print Studio Dimensions: 17 3/4" x 13" (paper) - Condition: Very Fine Impression, Color and State Price: Sold Note: "Gofun" embossing is found throughout the intricate dress and metallic gold has been applied to the earring. Prints by Obata in Fine Condition, exhibiting fresh colors, are very scarce!