127 - Taniguchi

Taniguchi JIRŌ TANIGUCHI The Walking Man, Casterman 2015 Original cover for the 20th-anniversary edition of the album, also used as the cover for Bang! magazine No. 3 in 2003. Signed. Watercolor on paper 30 × 42.5 cm (11.81 × 16.73 in.) This is an extremely rare piece, as there are very few originals by Jirō Taniguchi on the market. *The Walking Man* is one of the most representative works of his oeuvre. In it, the author recounts the walks of an ordinary man through his neighborhood, without any spectacular plot or real narrative stakes. As he wanders, he observes birds, follows a river, plays with his dog, or rediscovers familiar places. Each chapter transforms an ordinary moment into a poignant experience. *The Walking Man* foreshadows the great, intimate works that would bring Jirō Taniguchi international fame, such as *Quartier lointain* and *My Father’s Diary*. The watercolor palette, composed of soft greens, bluish grays, and light ochres, creates an atmosphere of almost meditative serenity. The outlines remain precise, but the color conveys a sense of calm and lightness. This blend of meticulous realism and painterly softness is one of the author’s hallmarks.