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Yoshitomo Nara — Backwards, Forwards
Yoshitomo Nara

Backwards, Forwards

2012

Yoshitomo Nara's woodblock print employs the traditional ukiyo-e technique rendered in vibrant colors on Japanese paper. The title suggests a meditation on opposing directions or perspectives, inviting viewers to consider multiple viewpoints. Using full sheets of traditional paper, the artist creates an immersive visual experience that honors printmaking heritage. Created in 2012, this work bridges classical Japanese artistic traditions with contemporary conceptual concerns. The color palette and composition reflect Nara's distinctive aesthetic sensibility.

Medium
Ukiyo-e woodblock print in colors, on Japanese paper, the full sheets
Dimensions

🔨 Auction Lot

Vanguarts — Contemporary Dialogue

April 23, 2026

Estimate: $46,000$55,000

Lot 3

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About this work

Yoshitomo Nara, Backwards, Forwards, 2012

Yoshitomo Nara's woodblock print employs the traditional ukiyo-e technique rendered in vibrant colors on Japanese paper. The title suggests a meditation on opposing directions or perspectives, inviting viewers to consider multiple viewpoints. Using full sheets of traditional paper, the artist creates an immersive visual experience that honors printmaking heritage. Created in 2012, this work bridges classical Japanese artistic traditions with contemporary conceptual concerns. The color palette and composition reflect Nara's distinctive aesthetic sensibility.

Medium
Ukiyo-e woodblock print in colors, on Japanese paper, the full sheets
Dimensions
41.9 x 29.2 cm
Year
2012
Seen at
Vanguarts, Online (via Artsy)

Related themes

Edition, Visual Balance, Living Artist, Blue Chip, Directional Themes, Japanese Paper, Japanese Artist, Japanese Tradition, Ukiyo-e Technique, Printmaking, Traditional Medium, Contemporary Perspective, Expressive, Pop Art, Color Printing, Whimsical, Portrait, Woodblock Print, Colorful, Figurative, Contemporary

More works by Yoshitomo Nara

Collected by

Melissa Avery