ANDREW WYETH

Yarnada-san, a friend of many years, invited me to join him at lunch with Tanaka Ryohei, known as Japan's etcher of infinite detail. I speak no Japanese. Ryohei speaks no English. Yamada did the talking for both of us.

I'd recently read an article by the art critic of the Chicago Tribune. Ryohei's exhibition there had been well-received. His work was likened to that of Andrew Wyeth.

Of course, the medium was different; but there was a strong similarity to the impression of their work.

I mentioned this article to Ryohei. He was thrilled by the praise, nodding and smiling as Yamada explained.

Twenty minutes later, he asked Yamada, "Who's Andrew Wyeth?"