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). The mountainous region of Toyoma provides subject matter for many of his prints, sometimes with the addition of fanciful objects like feathers or butterflies that add a sense of mystery to the composition. His works often feature subtle color and contrasting textures. For some of his designs, he adds color to the reverse of the print. He is also known for his colorful ex-libris bookplates. His interesting modern designs are a nice choice for collector interested in sosaku hanga designs.

Ex-libris Woodblocks - Charming design from a group of sosaku hanga bookplates or ex-libris (Latin for "from the library of") by a variety of artists. Pasted into the front of books to indicate ownership, these small format bookplates feature a wide variety of subjects, including landscapes, figures, flowers, objects, and animals. A few designs have pencil signatures. Many famous sosaku hanga artists have created ex-libris prints, including Azechi Umetaro, Hiratsuka Unichi, and Kawakami Sumio. Founded in 1943, the "Nippon Exlibris Association" actively promotes this genre of miniature woodblock, publishing newsletters and an annual calendar featuring works by its members. A fun and unusual collectible, rarely seen outside Japan.

Artist - Yoshio Kanamori (1922 - 2016)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Some prints have slight rippling from the printing process, or a couple light creases at edges. Please see photos for details. Nice condition overall.