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.

Tourists Arriving at the Pier in Kobe, 1951 - Terrific modern view of tourists arriving at the pier in Kobe and hiring rickshaws to do some sightseeing. Behind them, sailors can be seen strolling along the waterfront, with several ships docked at the busy harbor. Kobe native Kawanishi Hide is best known for his sosaku hanga designs that he carved and printed himself. For this woodblock, he carved the blocks himself, but the image was printed and was published by Kato Hanga Kankyusho of Tokyo in 1951. A rarely seen subject and a nice choice for a collector of modern Japanese prints.

Artist - Kawanishi Hide (1894 - 1964)

Image Size - 13 1/8" x 9 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Small tear at edge, repaired. Slight toning and spotting, a few creases and marks. Please see photos for details. Good overall.