Japanese Woodblock Print, 1950s published by Mikumo

SIZE IN INCHES: 10 x 13.5 inches

INAGAKI TOSHIJIRO (1902-1963) (also known as Inagaki Nenjiro) was a Japanese katazome artist. He was born into a family of artists in Kyoto, and studied at the Kyoto City University of Arts, graduating in 1922. By 1938 he had begun to dye screen painting using the yuzen method of dying. He won an award at the Kokugakai exhibition in 1940, and became well known when on e of his paintings was selected at the Nitten exhibition of 1941. He was subsequently selected another two times in later years.

After WWII he formed the Shinsho Bijutsu Kogei Kai with Tomimoto Kenkichi, and began using the katazome dyeing method in 1948. He was appointed a professor at Kyoto City University of Arts in 1958, and was designated a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government in 1962. Inagaki made his dyes from plants gathered in the countryside surrounding Kyoto, and frequently depicted the scenery he saw there. His work is held by the Art Institute of Chicago and the Kyoto City Museum of Art among other museums.

VG, no flaws of note