Japanese Woodblock Print by Mabuchi Toru, Exquisitely Matted and Framed

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From the web: Mabuchi Toru was born in Tokyo in 1920 (died 1994) into a family of woodblock engravers and … Read more From the web: Mabuchi Toru was born in Tokyo in 1920 (died 1994) into a family of woodblock engravers and artists. His father was his first teacher, introducing him to traditional printmaking techniques at an early age. Mabuchi later studied at the Tokyo University of Fine Arts as a student of Unichi Hiratsuka, one of the leading figures of the sosaku hanga movement. He graduated in 1941, shortly before the outbreak of the WWII.

After the war, Mabuchi Toru devoted himself entirely to artistic work. Within the sosaku hanga art movement, he distinguished himself through a self-developed printing method. The British Museum describes this approach as comparable to Pointillism. Mabuchi cut extremely thin pieces of wood and glued them onto the printing block in a mosaic-like arrangement. A single print could consist of a large number of such fragments, making the production process time-consuming and technically demanding.

"By this time he had developed a unique way of printing which is close to Pointillisme. He cuts up very thin wood into small pieces which he then glues to his block in a mosaic-like pattern. A large number of these may go to make one print. His production is therefore rather small."
This complex technique resulted in relatively small print runs and clearly differentiates Mabuchi's works from other sosaku hanga prints. His preferred subjects include landscapes, still lifes, and depictions of pottery, all rendered with a strong emphasis on texture and surface structure.

As the pictures testify, the framing for this lively, somewhat Picasso-esque print is top quality, with a fabric mat, even wood-paneled on the reverse, perhaps by a Japanese framer. The artist's signature is below the chop mark.

Measurements: about 23 1/4 by 23 3/4, frame included. The image: about 16 x 16 1/4. Date of fabrication unknown. See less