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.

Yoshio Kanamori - Born in Toyama Prefecture, Yoshio Kanamori studied with the great sosaku hanga printmaker Shiko Munakata. In 1952, he helped found the Japanese Print Institute (Nihon Hanga-in). He finds his subject matter in the mountainous region of Toyoma, sometimes adding fanciful objects like feathers or butterflies that add a sense of mystery to the composition. His works are restrained, with subtle color and contrasting textures. For some of his designs, he adds color to the reverse of the print. His interesting modern designs are a nice choice for collector interested in sosaku hanga designs.

Artist - Yoshio Kanamori (20th century)

Image Size - 13 1/2" x 8 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. A few minor spots in margin. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.