Japanese Woodblock Print, 1946, published by Takamizawa Honsha for Fugaku Shuppan-sha

SIZE IN INCHES: chuban, 10.75 x 8 inches

COMMENTS: Nihon Minzoku Zufu (Pictures of Japanese Native Customs). From the series of 12 prints done by well known sosaku hanga artists right after World War II.

"Ikaboshi in Esashi" Esashi in Hokkaido island was famous for its folk songs - Oiwake. It was very prosperous during the Edo era but it became obsolete during the Meiji era. Because of its long history, it retained its unique customs. Squid drying was one of them.

YASOJI WAKAYAMA (1903-1983) was born in Hokkaido. Originally he had studied law. He learned woodblock printmaking from Koshiro Onchi and Senpan Maekawa, two leading artists of the sosaku hanga movement. Later the artist used also the technique of stencil prints.

VG, minor flaws