Azechi Umetaro - Born to a poor farming family on the remote island of Shikoku, Azechi Umetaro moved to Tokyo as a teenager, working various jobs and taking a correspondence course in art. While later working at a government printing plant, he began experimenting with scratching designs on lead plates and printing them by hand. He received encouragement from Hiratsuka Un'ichi, one of the leading artists of the sosaku hanga or creative prints movement, who suggested switching to woodblocks. He was accepted into the Creative Print Association's 1924 exhibition, and began focusing on mountain landscapes, expressing his love of mountains and his passion for mountain climbing. In the 1950s, he began a series of "Mountain People," which he continued throughout his life. Azechi Umetaro's mountain views and portraits of mountaineers are memorable for their charming simplicity and sophisticated color. His works are a great choice for a collector interested in modern Japanese printmakers.

Artist - Azechi Umetaro (1902 - 1999)

Image Size - 4 1/2" x 4 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Some prints have slight thinning or paper remnants on reverse at one edge from previous mounting. Please see photos for details. Nice condition overall.