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

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, 12.5 x 18.5 inches

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

HIRATSUKA UN'ICHI (1895-1997) was one of the two most prominent leaders of the sosaku hanga movement, along with Onchi Koshiro (1891-1955). In 1935 Hiratsuka taught the first woodblock printing course at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. He moved to Washington D.C. in 1962, and spent thirty three years in the States. While living in Washington DC, he was commissioned by three standing Presidents to carve woodblock prints of National Landmarks, which included the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Library of Congress which are in the collections of The National Gallery and Freer Gallery today. Hiratsuka was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government in 1970. In 1991, the Hiratsuka Unichi Print Museum was opened in Suzaka, Naga Prefecture. He returned to Japan in 1994 for his final years.

VG, paper/glue residue from orignal folder on verso; otherwise Fine