Stik

£15,000-£20,000 VALUE (EST.)

$28,000-$35,000 VALUE (EST.)

$25,000-$35,000 VALUE (EST.)

¥130,000-¥170,000 VALUE (EST.)

€17,000-€23,000 VALUE (EST.)

$150,000-$190,000 VALUE (EST.)

¥2,580,000-¥3,440,000 VALUE (EST.)

$19,000-$25,000 VALUE (EST.)

This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.

Auction Date

Auction House

Artwork

Hammer Price

Return to Seller

Buyer Paid

March 2021

Sotheby's London - United Kingdom

Onbu (green) - Signed Print

Meaning & Analysis

Onbu (green) is a woodcut print in green, black and white based on a section from a 19th century Japanese print detailing a piggyback.

Read more about Stik Prints & Editions

As part of his method, Stik used techniques associated with the old Japanese woodcut style of 'ukiyo-e' to make the pieces, which contrast with Stik's generally sparse colour scheme yet are complementary to it. Although Stik's inspiration for the series is readily apparent, the piece is also completely at home in the artist's portfolio, infusing existing themes of dependency and physical support.

With its combination of the specific techniques and subject matter of Japanese ukiyo-e with Stik's bare-bones compositional style, the print is an intriguing meeting of approaches.

It is without a doubt the Stik print series that pushes the Japanese influence in his work to the forefront of the viewer's attention. With its combining of the classical ukiyo-e approach with the artist's Kanji-inspired style, the print provides a fascinating glimpse into the genesis of Stik's iconic six-line stickman.