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). 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.

Artist - Yoshio Kanamori (1922 - 2016)

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

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Tape remnants on reverse at top center and right center edges from previous mounting with faint stain on front. Slight rippling from printing process. Slight toning, tiny spots throughout, a couple light creases at edges. Please see photos for details.