Portrait of Sphinx: Etching 3 of 6 Possibly 1970

Editor: This is "Portrait of Sphinx: Etching 3 of 6" by Ikeda Masuo. The woman's expression, and the hands upon her chest, evoke feelings of introspection. What do you see in this piece, beyond the surface? Curator: Isn't it amazing how Ikeda plays with layers of identity? The title suggests a Sphinx, yet we see a very human portrait. Perhaps he's hinting at the hidden depths within us all, that enigmatic core. The red border... does it feel like a frame, or a cage? Editor: I hadn't considered the border in that way. It's as if the figure is both revealed and contained, a beautiful tension. Curator: Precisely! Art like this reminds us that seeing isn't just about looking. It's about feeling, questioning, and finding echoes of ourselves within the image. Editor: I'll definitely carry that with me. Thanks!