Details
Description
Sumi Leaf (Print)*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s
In Sumi Leaf, Virginia Cohn Parkum transforms a simple botanical motif into …
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Sumi Leaf (Print)*
Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 2020s
In Sumi Leaf, Virginia Cohn Parkum transforms a simple botanical motif into a meditation on touch, presence, and the trace of life. A dark handprint dominates the composition, its textured surface revealing the grain of skin, pressure points, and the uneven distribution of ink. The hand feels immediate and physical — not merely an image but an imprint of the artist’s own gesture, a direct record of contact between body and surface.
Extending from the hand is a delicate stem supporting a leaf rendered in saturated ink. The leaf’s organic silhouette contrasts with the human imprint, linking the human body to the natural world. Its slightly irregular edges and pooled pigment suggest both vitality and impermanence, as though the form were pressed from nature and fixed only momentarily in time.
The composition balances density and openness. The handprint anchors the lower right portion of the space with weight and gravity, while the leaf lifts the eye outward and upward, introducing lightness and breath. The negative space surrounding these forms amplifies their clarity and quiet resonance.
Technically, the work highlights the expressive range of sumi ink: the porous textures within the handprint reveal absorption and pressure, while the leaf’s richer saturation demonstrates fluid control and deliberate placement. The variation between dry stippling and velvety black passages emphasizes the physicality of the medium.
Sumi Leaf reads as both imprint and offering — a gesture that connects human presence with the living environment. Through the meeting of hand and leaf, Parkum suggests continuity between self and nature, reminding the viewer that touch is both an act of perception and a mark of belonging within the larger cycles of life.
-Jonathan Flike
*The title of this work was assigned by Visard Gallery.
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- Dimensions
- 12ʺW × 0.1ʺD × 9ʺH
- Styles
- Illustration
- Japanese
- Frame Type
- Unframed
- Period
- 2000 - 2009
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- C Print
- Pen and Ink
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Black
- Condition Notes
- Please note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may … morePlease note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may include, but are not limited to, minor surface marks, patina, fading, or imperfections typical of older items. All items are sold as-is, which is standard with vintage and pre-owned goods and cannot be returned on the basis of condition. Measurements are approximate. We do our best to describe items accurately; however, condition assessments are subjective. If you would like additional details, images, or clarification before purchasing, please contact us. Special Condition Notes: Please note this is a print directly from the artist. Though a multiple, these are limited. less
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