Japanese Woodblock Print, 1959, 1st edition, self published, pencil signed, titled, dated and numbered 417/510

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, 12 x 17.8 inches

COMMENTS: Included in the book "The Modern Japanese Print, An Appreciation by James Michener.

IWAMI REIKA (1927-2020), pioneer in the post-WWII male-dominated world of Japanese print-making, is the first Japanese woman print artist “to achieve the same status and worldwide recognition as male artists.” While born in Tokyo, her early years were spent on the Island of Kyushu. Returning to Tokyo, but unable to afford regular art classes, she attended Sunday art courses, including printmaking, at Tokyo's Bunka Gakuin College, graduating in 1955. Before coming to printmaking she tried oil painting and studied doll-making under the "National Treasure" Hori Ryojo (1897-1984). While having an early interest in prints, it was not until after seeing the work of the sosaku hanga (creative print) artist Onchi Koshiro (1891-1955) in 1953-1954 that she took up the study of printmaking, studying with Onchi's associates Sekino Jun'ichiro (1914-1988) and Shinagawa Takumi (1908-2009). By the mid-1950s, Iwami had "discovered a natural affinity for the paper, wood, and watercolor, and felt that she had found her artistic niche in the execution of woodblock prints."

In 1953 she began exhibiting prints with the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japanese Print Association), becoming a member in 1955 and remaining a member until today. In 1957, with Yoshida Chizuko (b. 1924) and others, she co-founded the Joryu Hanga KyÅkai (Women's Print Association), an association of nine professional women printmakers. She exhibited every year since 1957 with the College Women's Association of Japan print show in Tokyo and, starting in the late 1950s, her work has been included in numerous print biennales. However, it was not until 1962, when James Michener included her work in his seminal book The Modern Japanese Print - An Appreciation, which included, in its original limited edition form, a portfolio of ten original prints, that she gained world-wide notice.

VG, with minor flaws as shown