Iku Nagai - Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1930, Iku Nagai studied art and graphic design at Tama Art College. While working as a graphic designer, he created the crane logo formerly used by Japan Airlines. He produced a number of designs for woodblock prints published by Kyoto Hanga-in during the mid-1950s and later, including mythological creatures and beautiful women.

A Fuji Arts Contemporary Exhibition Item -  We’re excited to introduce a recently acquired collection of contemporary prints purchased in Japan. We’ll post this collection over the next month as a single exhibition of contemporary designs. We’re looking forward to sharing these beautiful prints all selected with an eye to the modern Japanese aesthetic. Have a look at the group and click on the Contemporary Japanese design link to see the entire collection.

Beauty in Rain with Umbrella - A beautiful and rare 20th century print designed as a special release for the Tokyo Olympics and published by Kyoto Hanga-in. This lovely design is the artist’s interpretation of the classic beauty print, a theme perpetuated in Japanese prints back to the Edo period and throughout the Meiji and shin-hanga periods. A soft rain falls over the night scene, the young beauty stands in traditional kimono on the bridge holding an umbrella. A design reminiscent of Goyo and Kotondo’s Taisho beauties. Numbered 8.

Publisher - Kyoto Hanga-in

Artist - Nagai Iku (1930 - )

Image Size - 19 1/4" x 13" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail. Paper remnants at top reverse edge. Please see photos for details.