Mid 20th Century Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902-2000) Plum Blossoms at Kitano Shrine Jap. Woodblock

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This is a lovely woodblock showing one of Japan's important shrines by a highly accomplished and sought-after artist. 9 3/4" … Read more This is a lovely woodblock showing one of Japan's important shrines by a highly accomplished and sought-after artist. 9 3/4" x 11" (sight) in a 14 1/2" x 16 1/2" silver molding, under glass. FREE SHIPPING!

Printmaker and painter Tomikichiro Tokuriki was born on March 22, 1902 in Kyoto, Japan, into a family of artisans who represented the Honganji Temple in Kyoto; Tokuriki was a 12th generation representative. His artistic education began as a child under his grandfather’s tutelage. He later attended the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting in a two-year preparatory class that focused on Western Painting, followed by four years of general training at the Kyoto City School of Fine Arts, graduating in 1924.

Tokuriki began to work in sosaku hanga printmaking, or “creative prints” printmaking established in Japan in the early 20th century, during his time in college. Like Modernism in the West, it was an art movement that broke away from rigid tradition and encouraged self-expression. Tokuriki learned the techniques of woodblock with the assistance of a master carver and printer, and joined the Hanga Association where he met other artists of the sosaku hanga movement such as Hiratsuka, Masao Maeda and Kihachiro Shimozawa. His work represented multiple styles from Western-style Modernism to traditional imagery. He did figurative works, scenes from villages in Europe and traditional Japanese imagery.

To earn a living, Tokuriki also created shin hanga, Japanese landscapes and popular scenes that appealed to tourists and wealthy collectors. Following World War II he established the Matsukyu Publishing Company, printing and publishing his own works as well as other sosaku and shin hanga artists. This helped secure his place in Kyoto as a leading contemporary printmaker and he soon exhibited throughout Japan and Europe. In the 1960’s he opened several exhibitions of his artworks in major US cities like Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
His work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, among others.

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