ORIGINS OF SOSAKU HANGA
Sosaku Hanga, or "creative prints," emerged in early 20th-century Japan as a groundbreaking movement in woodblock printing. Artists such as Kanae Yamamoto and Onchi Koshiro sought to reclaim the creative process by taking full control of the design, carving, and printing stages. This departure from the collaborative approach of traditional ukiyo-e and shin-hanga allowed for greater individuality and artistic freedom. Sosaku Hanga artists prioritized self-expression, embracing abstraction and innovative techniques that diverged from the narrative focus of earlier print traditions. This shift not only marked a turning point in Japanese printmaking but also advanced modernism by celebrating the artist’s autonomy and creative exploration.
HOW ARE SOSAKU HANGA PRINTS CREATED?
The creation of Sosaku Hanga prints is characterized by a highly personal and individualistic approach. Artists handle every aspect of the process, from designing to carving and printing, allowing for complete creative control. To push the boundaries of self-expression, many Sosaku Hanga artists employed experimental techniques, incorporating found objects like string, leaves, and reclaimed wood into their prints. These unconventional materials added texture and dimension, breaking free from the constraints of traditional woodblock printing. By using these innovative methods, artists advanced modernism within the genre, fostering abstraction and a more emotive, personal language in their works. This creative freedom bridged the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern artistic expression, contributing to the evolution of Japanese printmaking.
SOSAKU HANGA ARTISTS
Tanaka, Kyokichi, 1892-1915
Taninaka, Yasunori, 1897-1946
Saito, Kiyoshi, 1907-1997
Sasajima, Kihei, 1906-1993
Sekino, Jun'ichiro, 1914-1988
Senpan, Maekawa, 1888-1960
Shimozawa, Kihachiro, 1901-1984
Shinagawa, Takumi, 1908-2009
Yamaguchi, Gen, 1896-1976
Yamamoto, Kanae, 1882-1946
Yoshida, Chizuko, 1924-2017
Yoshida, Masaji, 1917-1971
Yoshio, Nagase, 1891-1978
Azechi, Umetaro, 1902-1999
Inagaki, Tomoo, 1902-1980
Hagiwara, Hideo, b. 1913
Hashimoto, Okiie, 1899-1993
Hiratsuka, Un'ichi, 1895-1997
Kawakami, Sumio, 1985-1972
Oda, Kazuma 1882-1956
Kitaoka, Fumio, 1918-2007
Mabuchi, Toru, 1920-1994
Maeda, Masao, 1904-1974
Mizufune, Rokushi, 1912-1980
Munakata, Shiko, 1903-1975
Ono, Tadashige, 1909-1990
Onchi, Koshiro, 1891-1955
Sosaku Hanga Japanese Prints
Fairy of the Night
Hideo Hagiwara (1913–2007)
EDITION: 6/50
DATE: 1967
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 19 ½ x 26 1/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Pencil signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist
$2,000.00
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Germination No. 5
Hideo Hagiwara (1913–2007)
EDITION: 83/210
DATE: 1965
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 29 × 19 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Pencil signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist in the margin
$2,500.00
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Three Masks (Kamen 3)
Tomio Kinoshita (1923-2014)
DATE: 1970
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 23 × 30 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Colored version with red/orange pigment in design
$2,000.00
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Three Masks (Kamen 3)
Tomio Kinoshita (1923-2014)
DATE: 1957
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 23 × 30 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression; small flaws in paper from printing process—thin spot in image only noticeable with light in background
NOTE: Earliest black and white version of this design; first state and as is typical with no signature, date or edition; executed on poor quality paper as was the cause with his earliest b & w designs executed before Kinoshita was a professional artist; important historical work
$2,000.00
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Waterfall
Okiie Hashimoto (1899–1993)
EDITION: Artist’s Proof (A.P.)
DATE: 1950
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 31 ½ x 22 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression, color, and condition; No problems to note
NOTE: Rare large scale and early work
$3,000.00
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Red Peony
Okiie Hashimoto (1899–1993)
DATE: 1948
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 16 ¼ x 12 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare early work
$1,200.00
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Village Man
Umetaro Azechi (1902–1999)
EDITION: 28/50
DATE: 1954
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 17 ½ x 12 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression, thickly applied pigment with strong surface texture, no problems to note
NOTE: Rare early, self-printed impression; markedly different from later studio-printed editions
$1,500.00
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Hikers Among Mountains
Umetaro Azechi (1902–1999)
DATE: Late 1930s–1940s
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 10 7/8 × 8 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare early work bearing Azechi’s original block-printed signature
$1,500.00
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Kōzan-ji (D)
Kiyoshi Saito (1907–1997)
EDITION: 27/100
DATE: 1977
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 18 × 23 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; no problems to note
$2,500.00
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White Porcelain
Kiyoshi Saito (1907–1997)
EDITION: 1/80
DATE: 1957
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 21 × 28 inches
CONDITION: Superb color and impression; excellent preservation of texture; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare early design
$4,500.00
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Landscape with Bear
Tadashige Ono (1909-1990)
DATE: 1938
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 20 ½ x 24 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression, color, and condition; light wrinkling to paper
NOTE: Exceedingly rare and early work, possibly unique; silver and gold metallic highlights
PROVENANCE: Ono Tadashige Museum
$4,000.00
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Nanbanesque Behavior
Sumio Kawakami (1895-1972)
DATE: 1955
MEDIUM: Woodblock print with hand-applied colors
DIMENSIONS: 18 × 24 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
$3,500.00
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Untitled (South of France — Likely Nice)
Inosuke Hazama (1895–1977)
DATE: c. Early 1950s
MEDIUM: Lithograph
DIMENSIONS: 22 × 30 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Signed by the artist in pencil at the bottom margin
$1,500.00
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Whale
Yoshiro Nagase (1891–1978)
DATE: c. 1925
MEDIUM: Wood Engraving (Woodblock Print)
DIMENSIONS: 18 3/4 × 13 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: This impression was executed c. 1950
$950.00
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Autumn in Mountain Cottage
Susumu Yamaguchi (active mid-20th century)
DATE: c. late 1940s
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 9 3/8 × 12 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
$750.00
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Lakeside at Byodo-In
Un’ichi Hiratsuka (1895–1997)
DATE: 1960
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 18 ½ x 12 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: This design was included in James Michener’s The Modern Japanese Print; this is a rare standalone impression
$1,200.00
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Stone Buddha of Usuki
Un’ichi Hiratsuka (1895–1997)
DATE: 1940
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 16 ½ x 19 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
$1,500.00
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Chichibu Nagatoro
Un’ichi Hiratsuka (1895–1997)
DATE: 1935
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 9 ½ x 12 Inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare and early design
$850.00
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Mt. Jodo and Mt. Tate
Kazuma Oda (1881-1956)
MEDIUM: Lithograph
DATE: 1949
EDITION: 8/10
DIMENSIONS: 12 1/8 x 18 1/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
$3,200.00
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Snowy Village
Kazuma Oda (1882-1956)
DATE: 1929
MEDIUM: Lithograph
DIMENSIONS: 15 × 20 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
$3,000.00
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Old Kamaguchi Water Gate
Hayashi Tamotsu (b. 1925)
DATE: c. 1950
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 12 5/8 × 16 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression, color, and condition; no issues to note
$950.00
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Waterfall
Kasamatsu Shiro (1898–1991)
EDITION: 42/100
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1964
DIMENSIONS: 16 5/8 × 11 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; no problems to note
NOTE: Self-carved and self-printed
$1,500.00
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Mt. Yatsugatake
Kazuma Oda (1882-1956)
MEDIUM: Etching
DATE: c. 1920
DIMENSIONS: 12 1/2 x 16 7/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
$3,000.00
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Nagasaki (Temple Rooftops)
Ken Tagawa (1906-1967)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1964
DIMENSIONS: 13 1/2 x 16 inches
CONDITION: Excellent—no problems to note
NOTE: Signed and sealed by the artist
$1,600.00
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Seaside
Saichiro Tanaka (1900-1967)
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas
DATE: c. 1950s
DIMENSIONS: 18 × 20 1/2 inches (canvas size)
CONDITION: Excellent, no problems to note
NOTE: Framed
$10,000.00
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Nude
Saichiro Tanaka (1900-1967)
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas
DATE: c. 1930s
DIMENSIONS: 28 × 20 ½ inches (canvas size)
CONDITION: Excellent, no problems to note
NOTE: Framed
$25,000.00
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Picturesque Peak
Kiyoshi Saito (1907–1997)
EDITION: 30/100
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1980
DIMENSIONS: 20 5/8 x 27 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
NOTE: Silver mica highlights
$2,500.00
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Manhattan, New York
Fumio Kitaoka (1918-2007)
EDITION: A.P.
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1966
DIMENSIONS: 18 ½ x 25 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
LITERATURE: 60 Years of Fumio Kitaoka’s Woodblock Prints: An Exploration of Print and Form, 2003, pg.131
$3,000.00
Night View of Chicago
Fumio Kitaoka (1918-2007)
EDITION: 19/50
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1969
DIMENSIONS: 15 7/8 x 25 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
LITERATURE: 60 Years of Fumio Kitaoka’s Woodblock Prints: An Exploration of Print and Form, 2003, pg.131
$3,000.00
1979
$900
Quiet Night
Hideo Hagiwara (1913–2007)
EDITION: 13/20
DATE: 1979
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 × 13 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Pencil signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist in the margin
$900.00
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