Okiie Hashimoto - Okiie Hashimoto graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1924, and studied printmaking briefly with Hiratsuka Un'ichi, one of the leading artists of the sosaku hanga or creative prints movement. After retiring from teaching in 1955, he devoted himself fulltime to making woodblock prints. His bold designs incorporate rich color and strong, stylized outlines, creating striking images with a modern feeling and a sparkling, almost stained glass-like appearance. Hashimoto's prints are signed, titled, and dated by the artist in the bottom margin, and some are limited edition. Rarely seen on the market, Hashimoto's prints are a fine choice for a collector interested in modern Japanese prints.

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.

Numbered - A. P. (Artist's Proof)

Artist - Okiie Hashimoto (1899 - 1993)

Image Size - 8 1/2" x 11" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Tape remnants on reverse at top and bottom edge from previous mounting. A couple tiny holes in margin. Light toning and spotting, slight soiling and a few creases at edges. Please see photos for details.