Katsuyuki Nishijima, Deep Green, 1990s, Woodblock

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Deep green (深緑) — katsuyuki nishijima, sōsaku-hanga woodblock print, japan, c. 1990s

a study in architectural stillness, deep green (深緑) … Read more Deep green (深緑) — katsuyuki nishijima, sōsaku-hanga woodblock print, japan, c. 1990s

a study in architectural stillness, deep green (深緑) draws the eye into a layered world of overlapping tiled rooftops, mossy ridge poles, and dense summer foliage — a quintessential meditation on the enduring beauty of traditional japanese temple architecture. The composition is masterfully cropped, pressing roofline against roofline in receding planes of blue-grey tile, warm brown cedar, and the flash of vermilion lacquerwork at upper right, anchored throughout by the deep, saturated greens of the surrounding trees that give the print its name.
true to nishijima’s signature approach, not a single human figure appears. The result is an image that feels timeless — suspended somewhere between documentation and dream.
the print is hand-signed in pencil by the artist in the lower right margin, with the title inscribed in japanese characters (深緑) to the left. Printed on high-quality japanese washi paper with the characteristic surface warmth that moku-hanga demands.

the print will be shipped insured overseas. Cost of insured transport to the us, euro 115.

colors may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or your monitor settings.

wear consistent with age and use.

measurements: h.33 x w.26 cm.
medium: original woodblock print (moku-hanga), hand-printed
signed: pencil signature by the artist, lower margin
condition: very good; consistent with careful storage

about the artist
katsuyuki nishijima (born 1945, yamaguchi prefecture) is one of japan’s foremost contemporary woodblock print artists, celebrated for his quiet studies of traditional japanese architecture — tiled rooftops, thatched farmhouses, historic storefronts and shaded temple precincts rendered in bold planes of colour and geometric precision. 
at the age of 19, he trained with the prestigious mikumo publishing house in kyoto, where he developed his deep grounding in traditional printmaking.  from 1968 to 1972 he experimented with stencil dyeing and various forms of printmaking before focusing exclusively on woodblock work, finding his defining inspiration in the architecture of kyoto and beyond. 
all of nishijima’s prints are carved and printed by the artist himself — a key hallmark of the sōsaku-hanga (creative print) movement , which distinguishes his work from commercially produced prints where labour is divided. He has also authored a book on woodblock printmaking technique, and taught design, carving, and printing workshops , cementing his standing as both practitioner and authority in the field.
nishijima specialises in scenes of old japan, and a distinctive hallmark of his entire body of work is the complete absence of human figures or automobiles, reinforcing a timeless and deeply nostalgic atmosphere.  his visual language is philosophically aligned with the shin-hanga movement, which emphasised beauty, sentiment, and emotional resonance — though his practice is rooted in the self-expressive tradition of sōsaku-hanga. 
nishijima ranks among the most prolific contemporary japanese woodblock print artists, and his limited editions — typically 500 impressions — consistently sell out, demonstrating sustained collector demand. 

about japanese woodblock printing
the art of moku-hanga (木版画) — japanese woodblock printing — has a continuous history stretching back over three centuries, reaching its classical peak in the ukiyo-e prints of the edo period (1603–1868) with masters such as hokusai and hiroshige. Each colour in a finished print requires a separate carved wooden block, inked and pressed onto dampened washi paper in precisely registered sequence. A single composition may demand a dozen or more blocks and many hours of labour. The resulting surface — with its subtle ink gradations, tactile paper texture, and hand-pressed warmth — is entirely irreproducible by mechanical means.
in the 20th century, the shin-hanga movement revitalised the traditional publisher-led model, while the sōsaku-hanga movement — to which nishijima belongs — insisted that the artist must conceive, carve, and print every work personally, treating the woodblock print as a fully autonomous fine art object rather than a craft product. This distinction matters: a signed nishijima print represents the hand of the artist at every stage of creation.

a rare opportunity to acquire a pencil-signed impression of one of nishijima’s most architecturally compelling compositions — a work that rewards prolonged looking.

colors may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or your monitor settings.

wear consistent with age and use. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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