Details

Kihei Sasajima was a sosaku hanga artist who trained under Un’ichi Hiratsuka and Shiko Munakata, both leading artists of the genre. At first blush, one easily notices the influence of both teachers at work in the boldness of this black and white design. Sasajima, however, makes this landscape his own by utilizing a printing technique of his invention. After suffering debilitating back pain from printing, Sasajima acquired a mechanical press and used it for the printing of his designs. Sasajima, however, did not ink the carved block with pigment but simply used the press to emboss the carved-out portion of the design onto the paper. After the embossing was complete, the artist used an inked paper or cotton implement and dabbed on the printing pigment, usually black, onto the portions of the design he desired inked. The effect is a subtle and sensitive image with a strong three-dimensionality.

In this impression, Kihei Sasajima’s unique printing technique effectively conveys a dramatic moonlight night as it populates his energetic landscape. A closer look at the print reveals the subtle embossing throughout the design, which provides depth as well as an energetic vibrancy that is carried on by the inked portions of the image. There is an energetic pulse that permeates the entire composition—Sasajima's passion for this moonlit scene is palpable.

Connoisseur's Note

This design is one of Sasajima’s most successful large-scale prints. It’s considered one of his masterpieces and among his most sought after designs. This particular impression is made even more desirable by its excellent condition—a testament to its years of archival storage. It’s quite rare to find large-scale work that has never been framed or displayed and has been spared the transgressions of improper framing and fading caused by years of exposure to sunlight. This print is as fresh as the day it was printed.