Sosaku Hanga - The sosaku hanga or creative print movement in Japan began in the early part of the twentieth century. Unlike the traditional collaborative woodblock printing process utilizing a separate artist, carver, and printer along with a publisher, the sosaku hanga movement emphasized artist involvement in designing, carving, and printing the blocks himself, as the sole creator of his work. The movement gained popularity following World War II, earning international acclaim and expanding subject matter to include abstraction. Today most contemporary Japanese print artists design, carve, and print their woodblocks themselves, continuing the vibrant creative tradition established with ukiyo-e. Sosaku hanga prints encompass a wide range of subjects and expressive artistic styles, and are a great choice for a collector interested in modern and contemporary prints.

Kawakami Sumio - Many of Kawakami Sumio's intriguing sosaku hanga designs reflect his interest in foreign culture and the interactions between the Japanese and the first foreigners who first arrived in Japan to trade. He lived in the United States for a year, and collected foreign language books, which provided inspiration for some of his subject matter. By the mid-1930s, he developed his own technique of printing a black key block and then hand coloring each print rather than using multiple blocks to add color. Although Kawakami did not personally know many of the early sosaku hanga artists because he lived far from Tokyo, printmakers like the famous and influential Onchi Koshiro considered him a great artist. His amusing designs are a fun choice for a modern collector.

Artist - Kawakami Sumio (1895 - 1972)

Image Size - 8 1/4" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report. Date seal on reverse.