KUJUKUSHIMA ISLANDS (Okuyama Gihachiro)

N.1 shin-hanga woodblock print
Year: 1949
Condition: very good
Size: 42 x 25,5 cm

SOLD

Description

Precious shin-hanga (新版画) woodblock print of large horizontal format, signed on the lower margin by the artist Okuyama Gihachiro (奥山儀八郎). The work, made in 1949 with the collaboration of the printer Inomura Masanosuke (猪村正之助), is taken from the series “Landscape Prints of Japan” (日本風景版画) and is entitled “Nagasaki Kujukushima” (長崎九十九島).

Okuyama Gihachiro (1907-1981) was a prolific artist of the shin-hanga (新版画) and sosaku-hanga (創作版画) styles. Noted for his landscape prints, he has created over a thousand works in his lifetime. His shin-hanga woodcuts are consistent with other artists in this style, with evocative colors and smooth gradations giving the works depth and realism. His sosaku hanga works are intentionally rustic, either in black and white or a limited color palette.

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the right signs of aging, is in very good general condition.