Tadashi Nakayama "Akai Fuku" (Red Coat) Vintage 1957 Japanese Woodblock Print

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Tadashi Nakayama "Akai Fuku" (Red Coat) Vintage 1957 Japanese Woodblock Print

Overview
An exceptional investment piece for collectors of Mid-Century … Read more Tadashi Nakayama "Akai Fuku" (Red Coat) Vintage 1957 Japanese Woodblock Print

Overview
An exceptional investment piece for collectors of Mid-Century Modernism and Asian art, this original 1957 color woodblock print is a seminal work by the internationally acclaimed sōsaku-hanga (creative print) master, Tadashi Nakayama (Japanese, 1927–2014). Titled Akai Fuku (The Red Coat), this rare masterpiece captures Nakayama’s early post-war period, showcasing his brilliant fusion of traditional Japanese printing techniques with bold, graphic Western abstraction. Embellished with hand-applied metallic pigments, it stands as a commanding and highly textured statement piece.

Design & Artistry
The print features a highly stylized, enigmatic portrait of a young woman shown in profile, her crossed arms and structural posture wrapped in a voluminous red coat. The coat is decorated with dramatic, swirling black geometric accents and small triangular blocks of azure blue, creating an incredible sense of graphic energy. Her stylized hands hold a loose bundle of lines, while her dynamic, windswept hair surges backward in intricate, layered waves.
The background is a complex, mottled field of earth-toned burgundy layered with shimmering metallic silver and gold mica powder. When viewed under direct lighting, these metallic under-layers catch the light, adding a rich, atmospheric glow and exceptional depth to the composition.

Provenance & Historical Value
Crafted in 1957 during the peak of Japan's post-war print renaissance, this piece is pencil-signed and dated by the artist in the lower margin. Unlike classic ukiyo-e prints created by a division of labor, sōsaku-hanga works were completely carved, inked, and hand-pulled by the artist himself, giving each impression a unique, painterly variation in the block texture and ink opacity. Examples of Akai Fuku are held in esteemed permanent institutional collections globally, including the University of Michigan Museum of Art.

Style & Placement Notes
With its striking red, black, and gold palette, this monumental woodblock anchors high-end interiors beautifully:
Mid-Century Modern & Post-War Modernist: Complements low-profile walnut credenzas, neutral textiles, and sculptural seating.
Contemporary Gallery Aesthetic: Provides a powerful pop of saturated color and historic gravitas on a minimalist white or taupe wall.
Eclectic Luxury: Its shimmering metallic background harmonizes elegantly alongside brushed brass fixtures and high-end lacquer finishes.

Condition Report
Excellent Vintage Condition: The colors remain remarkably crisp, deep, and beautifully saturated with zero noticeable sun fading.
Paper & Margin: The handmade Japanese paper shows natural, age-appropriate toning along the extreme outer margins, which does not encroach onto the vibrant central image. No tears, foxing, or structural waves are present.
Framing: Housed in a handsome, period-style silver-and-red wood frame with a clean red inner fillet that accentuates the print's tones. Ready for immediate gallery installation.

Product Specifications
Era: Mid-20th Century (Dated 1957)
Artist: Tadashi Nakayama (Japanese, 1927–2014)
Medium: Multi-color woodblock print on paper with metallic pigments
Signature: Hand-signed and dated "1957 Nakayama" in pencil in the lower margin
Image Sight Dimensions: 24.0” H x 15.0” W
Full Paper Sheet Size: 27.3" H x 19.1" W
Framed Outer Dimensions: Approximately 30.5” H x 20.75” W (80 x 53 cm).
About the Artist: Tadashi Nakayama (Japanese, 1927–2014)
Tadashi Nakayama was a preeminent master of Japan’s post-war sōsaku-hanga (Creative Print) movement, globally celebrated for his dazzlingly complex and visually poetic multi-color woodblock prints. Breaking away from traditional ukiyo-e workshop divisions of labor, Nakayama strictly adhered to the modernist philosophy of self-determination—personally sketching, carving, and hand-pulling every single block for his limited editions.
Initially trained in oil painting at the prestigious Tama College of Art in Tokyo, Nakayama pivoted to woodcuts in 1951, forging an independent aesthetic path. His brilliant career is divided into distinct eras: his coveted early post-war period (1950s) defined by rich, saturated colors and flat, stylized silhouettes; his middle European period influenced by Byzantine mosaics and Persian miniatures; and his legendary late career, which focused on magnificent, swirling compositions of galloping horses and cosmic butterflies.
Pushing the physical boundaries of the medium, Nakayama’s printing process was extraordinarily meticulous, often requiring up to 23 separate woodblocks and over 50 individual color and registration stages. He is particularly revered for his innovative layering of metallic powders, gold leaf, and silver mica pigments, which bestow a shimmering, luxurious dimensionality upon his works. Today, Nakayama's prized originals are held in the permanent collections of major global institutions, including the Library of Congress, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the British Museum. See less