Y.N. (Self-Portrait) (2002) by Yoshitomo Nara is an intaglio print depicting a stylized, wide-eyed child figure with a solemn expression and exaggerated red curly hair. Wearing a blue shirt emblazoned with the initials "Y.N.," the figure is a stand-in for the artist himself, rendered in his signature naïve, manga-inspired aesthetic. The sparse composition and muted background focus attention on the quirky yet emotionally complex character. Created in a small edition of 35, this self-portrait reflects Nara’s recurring themes of innocence, rebellion, and self-reflection.
Yoshitomo Nara (Japan, 1959) is a renowned contemporary artist celebrated for his whimsical yet introspective depictions of children and animals. Influenced by Japanese pop culture and Western punk rock, his works explore themes of innocence, rebellion, and emotional complexity. Nara’s iconic style has earned him international acclaim and widespread popularity.
IntaglioIntaglio is a printmaking technique where a design is incised below the surface of a metal or stone plate. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the incised lines or depressions, while the surface is wiped clean. The ink in the depressions is then transferred to paper using an etching press. Common intaglio techniques include engraving, etching, and drypoint.
Y.N. (Self-Portrait) (2002) by Yoshitomo Nara is an intaglio print depicting a stylized, wide-eyed child figure with a solemn expression and exaggerated red curly hair. Wearing a blue shirt emblazoned with the initials "Y.N.," the figure is a stand-in for the artist himself, rendered in his signature naïve, manga-inspired aesthetic. The sparse composition and muted background focus attention on the quirky yet emotionally complex character. Created in a small edition of 35, this self-portrait reflects Nara’s recurring themes of innocence, rebellion, and self-reflection.
Yoshitomo Nara (Japan, 1959) is a renowned contemporary artist celebrated for his whimsical yet introspective depictions of children and animals. Influenced by Japanese pop culture and Western punk rock, his works explore themes of innocence, rebellion, and emotional complexity. Nara’s iconic style has earned him international acclaim and widespread popularity.
Anything with human form will resemble someone you know.
- Yoshitomo Nara
Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara has had his work shown in over 40 exhibitions worldwide since 1984. He's a contemporary artist, sculptor and drafter. Nara is widely-known for his Neo-Pop paintings, similar to that in children's books and comics. Most of his work depicts one particular object, usually children or animals drawn with cartoon-type lines. The children appear to be cute but may be displayed with knives or saws. Yoshitomo Nara doesn't view them as being evil or having aggression but saw them as being among bigger people who held bigger knives or saws. Yoshitomo Nara's work has been influenced by the punk rock era in which he grew up in. In addition, the post World War II Japan has made an impact on most of his artwork. "Nobody's Fool" is Yoshitomo Nara’s first major exhibition in New York City which features more than one hundred of his works ranging from his early career to his recent sculptures, drawings, and ceramics.
Comic strip art refers to artwork that utilizes the subject matter and commercial printing techniques found in comic strips. In the 1960s, a group of artists began creating paintings that incorporated Ben-Day dots—commonly used in comics and advertising—to produce highly graphic designs in bright colors, using traditional art media.