LISTED JAPANESE TOMIKICHIRO TOKURIKI (1902 – 1999) FINE ORIGINAL WOODBLOCK

Description: LISTED JAPANESE TOMIKICHIRO TOKURIKI (1902 – 1999) FINE ORIGINAL WOODBLOCK For your consideration this a fine vintage original woodblock of "Three Bridges of Hiyoshi" by listed Japanese artist: Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902-1999) in a very good condition. It is in a nice original wooden frame with a linen mat under glass, (the mat in my photos looks like some discoloration but in person it is in a good condition without any issues). The piece is signed and titled on the upper left by the artist. It is very well done with beautiful colors. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was a modern Japanese woodblock printmaker. He represented the 12th generation of a Kyoto artisan family designated as the official Kyoto print artists for the famous Honganji Temple. He graduated from Kyoto City School of Fine Arts and Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting in 1924. After World War II, he established the Matsukyu Publishing Company to produce and distribute his own prints and other Shin Hanga and Sosaku Hanga pieces. Tomikichiro Tokuriki was an influential figure in Japan's contemporary print movement. He was the official artist of the Honganji Temple, and his work has been commissioned for various temples throughout Japan, including the famous shrines at Ise. His prints are in the permanent collections of the Museum Fine Arts Boston and the Museum of Modern Art New York. Tokuriki, Tomikichiro Tomikichiro Tokuriki (徳力富吉郎, March 22, 1902 – 1999) was born in Kyoto, Japan, and the 12th generation of a Kyoto artisan family designated as the official Kyoto print artists for the famous Honganji Temple. First taught by his grandfather, he entered the Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts with a two-year preparatory class and four years of regular training, and later a three year training at the Kyoto College of Art, graduating from Kyoto Art College in 1923. While still at college, the young artist discovered his passion for sosaku hanga prints – a movement that had spread from Tokyo to Kyoto. With the assistance of an old carver and an Ukiyo-e printer, Tomikichiro Tokuriki learned everything to master the complete process of design, carving and printing himself. He produced many sets of prints before and during the Pacific War based on traditional subjects, such as ‘Shin Kyoto fukei’ (‘New View of Kyoto’, 1933-4), which also included designs by Asada Benji and Asano Takeji, and ‘Tokyo hakkei’ (‘Eight Views of Tokyo’, 1942). Most of these were published by Uchida of Kyoto, but after the war Tokuriki set up his own publishing company called Matsukyu, which also began to teach block-carving to artisans and artists, in later years many of them foreigners. In 1948 he also set up a sub-company called Koryokusha consisting of artists who would produce their prints under the financial umbrella of Matsukyu. Later he joined the Hanga Association and met other artists of the sosaku hanga movement like Hiratsuka, Masao Maeda, Kihachiro Shimozawa, Hide Kawanishi and Shiko Munakata. Tokuriki Tomikichiro produced two lines of prints: there were the sosaku hanga prints, meaning creative prints, which were his real passion, and then there were pastel-like shin-hanga prints in soft colors with scenes of Japanese landscape and famous places, the prints for which he is more popularly known. “I’d rather do nothing but creative prints, but after all, I sell maybe ten of them against two hundred for a publisher-artisan print.” While the artist published his creative hanga-style prints himself, the artisan-prints were published by Uchida, Unsodo and other Kyoto publishers. Biography of Tomikichiro Tokuriki Tomikichiro Tokuriki was born on March 22, 1902, in Kyoto, Japan. His initial mentor was his grandfather, guiding his early artistic endeavors. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts, completing a two-year preparatory class followed by four years of regular training. Later, he pursued an additional three-year training at the Kyoto College of Art, culminating in his graduation from Kyoto Art College in 1923. Tomikichiro Tokuriki passed away in 1999 in Kyoto. Passion for Sosaku Hanga During his college years, the young artist uncovered his fervor for sosaku hanga prints, a movement that had emanated from Tokyo and permeated into Kyoto. Under the tutelage of an experienced carver and an Ukiyo-e printer, Tomikichiro Tokuriki diligently absorbed the comprehensive process of design, carving, and printing, mastering each stage himself. Subsequently, he became a member of the Hanga Association, where he crossed paths with fellow artists of the sosaku hanga movement such as Hiratsuka, Masao Maeda, Kihachiro Shimozawa, Hide Kawanishi, and Shiko Munakata. Two Artists in One Tokuriki Tomikichiro was a versatile artist known for producing two distinct lines of prints. His primary passion lay in creating sosaku hanga prints, reflecting a more creative style. In contrast, his more commercially successful works were akin to his 'bread and butter' or perhaps 'rice and tea' art – pastel-like prints featuring soft colors depicting scenes of Japanese landscapes and renowned locations. It may seem surprising, but these prints, characterized by their shin hanga style, are highly sought-after and not just kitschy imitations, but rather splendid designs crafted in the traditional Japanese manner. Quoting the artist himself: "I'd rather focus solely on creative prints, but in reality, I may sell around ten of them compared to two hundred of publisher-artisan prints." While Tokuriki published his creative hanga-style prints independently, the more commercially viable artisan prints were published by esteemed houses like Uchida, Unsodo, and other Kyoto-based publishers. Tokuriki Tomikichiro, incidentally, was also an ardent collector of ancient ukiyo-e. Traveling to the US and Europe Much like other eminent Japanese artists of the twentieth century, such as Hasui Kawase or Hiroshi Yoshida, Tomikichiro Tokuriki embarked on extensive journeys across Europe and the United States. During the 1960s, he organized numerous exhibitions showcasing his artworks in major US cities like Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. These trips abroad served as opportunities for him to create sketches inspired by the diverse cultural landscapes he encountered. Tomikichiro Tokuriki as a Teacher Tomikichiro Tokuriki was the thirteenth generation of artists in his family, residing in a two-hundred-year-old house near the Imperial Palace, boasting a large garden adorned with cherry trees. To ensure a steady income, he operated a small tea shop adjacent to his house. Within the compound of his ancient residence, Tokuriki had a studio where he both created his artwork and mentored aspiring artists, including many from overseas. Some of his students, such as David Kelly and David Stones, went on to achieve prominence in their own right. Tokuriki Tokichiro often expressed: "Fate made me an artist, but I crafted myself into a hanga artist." Dimension: Frame: 15" x 17" Painting: 9-1/4” x 10-1/4” Some light/flash reflections are seen in our pictures however this painting is in a good condition. After receiving the payment your item will be shipped within 1 day. Payment should be made within 3 days of auction ending. 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Price: 145 USD

Location: Nokesville, Virginia

End Time: 2024-12-17T03:19:54.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25 USD