Mount Fuji and Young Girl from the portfolio Loving Service Seal Hanga
Mount Fuji and Young Girl from the portfolio Loving Service Seal Hanga
by Onchi Kōshirō, 1953
by Onchi Kōshirō, 1953
Embedded Files
Left: inner folder with six small gummed prints by Kitaoka Fumio (1918-2007)
IHL Cat. 1298c
Right: inner folder with four small gummed prints by Shinagawa Takumi (1908-2009)
IHL Cat. 1298b
About These Prints
About These Prints
Onchi created the front and back covers of this portfolio, picturing Mount Fuji and a young girl which contains ten perforated gummed prints by the artists Kitaoka Fumio (1918-2007) and Shinagawa Takumi (1908-2009), published by The Central Community Chest of Japan, Inc.*, a social welfare nonprofit organization formed in 1947 to help in rebuilding Japan, to familiarize foreigners with the revival of Japanese woodblock printing and to raise money for the Community Chest. (See "Fund Raising Letter" below.)
* for a history of the organization go to https://www.akaihane.or.jp/english/about/
In addition to the two sets of gummed prints the portfolio contains an introduction to the Japanese Woodcut Print by Onchi and a historical overview of the Japanese Woodcut Print, as shown below.
Exterior of inner folder
Introduction to the Japanese Woodcut Print
click on image to enlarge
JAPANESE WOODCUT PRINT
Woodcut print is an art characteristic of Japan. Its popularity became world-wide, particularly after "ukiyoe" of the Tokugawa period was introduced, but in the face of the rise of art and technique of mechanical printing it declined for a time being, only to be revived from about 1910 for its artistic value.
In olden days the process of production was divided, each part being performed by different individual - artist, cutter and printer. Now the artist performs the entire work from designing to final stage of printing. In the case of the SEAL, however, the printing is done by an expert printer under strict supervision of the artist, because larger number of prints are required than usual.
Printing is done by hand, and as the work is usually done on large-sized paper one can hardly fail to appreciate the work of this kind in a miniature size.
Each picture requires as many carved blocks as are the number of colors used, and the same color may be run more than once to obtain the desired tone. In the present number of the SEAL seven blocks were prepared and each color is run but once.
As to the materials used, blocks are of choiced cherry tree, and the paper is made of special pulp worked by hand to order especially for the SEAL in Fukui Prefecture, home of what is known as "washi" or Japanese paper.
The work on the back cover is adapted for framing as it may be desired.
The Central Community Chest of Japan, Inc.
266, 3-chome Harajuji, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, Japan
JAPANESE WOODCUT PRINT
Though it has been much accepted and widely admired by the art connoisseurs of the world, particularly after the introduction of ukiyoe prints, the art of woodcut print declined in popularity in face of the modern technology of mechanical printing toward the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912). In the 1910's, however, the art revived, but not so much as a means of reproduction as for its art's sake. Now under the influence of the Western art as well the artist does the entire work from initial stage of cutting to the final printing.
The SEAL is a further attempt to present the recent trend of the school through works of the leading artists in its miniature form - something entirely different from the traditional large-sized prints.
August, 1953
Kōshirō Orchi
(NOTE: Mr. Koshiro Onchi is one of the foremost modern woodcut print artist in Japan – Editor)
The cover prints by Onchi which are not listed in the catalog raisonné of his prints, Prints of Onchi Koshiro, are two of his last works. The notes in the portfolio state that the prints were "done by an expert printer under strict supervision of the artist, because larger number of prints are required than usual."
For details on the small prints ("seals") contained in the folder please see IHL Cat. #977 and IHL Cat. #976.
Central Community Chest of Japan, Inc.
266, 3-CHOME HARAJUKU
SHIBUYA-KU TOKYO
JAPAN
AUG. 20, 1953
Dear Mr.
Kindly permit our indulgence of writing you abruptly from this far-off country across the Pacific appealing to your sympathy and generosity, offering in return something unique and might be of interest to you.
We offer works of masters in modern Japanese wood-cut prints in form of Seal, exclusively done for the benefit of our organization, Central Community Chest of Japan, Inc. The subjects dealt in the serial will be intrinsically things of Japan and Japanese, and the number of prints issued will be limited.
We submit to you the first of the series enclosed herewith for your inspection. Receiving the Seal does not oblige you in any way. Should the cause to help our need and the work offered meet with your approval however, we would be most grateful to received $5 for each issue. An addressed envelope is enclosed as the Sumitomo Bank kindly offers their service free of charge, and will act as our agent in handling the proceeds.
Yours Sincerely,
Nozomu Nakagawa
President, C.C.C.J.
Loving Service Seal Hanga - second and last issue
In addition to this portfolio The Community Chest issued one other portfolio with the cover created by Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960) and the small prints designed by Hatsuyama Shigeru (1897-1973), as shown below.
Reference only. Not part of this collection.
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