Japanese Woodblock Print, 1922, first edition, published by Sato Shotaro, from the series Kanpo's Creative Prints (Series 1)

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, approx. 10.4 x 16

YOSHIKAWA KANPO (1894-1979) was born in Kyoto and studied Japanese-style painting and woodblock printing under Nishibori Tosui and Takeuchi Seiho. In 1918 he graduated from Kyoto Specialist School of Painting. After his graduation he was active as a stage designer and painter. He exhibited with Miki Suizan, another Kyoto artist. Between 1922 and 1924 Yoshikawa published a number of prints with the publisher Sato Shotaro, who at the time was a rival of Shozaburo Watanabe. Both publishers were active in publishing shin hanga style woodblock prints. Ten of Yoshikawa Kanpo's prints published by Sato Shotaro were included in the influential Toledo Museum exhibition of 1930 which was instrumental in introducing shin hanga to America. Yoshikawa Kanpo's actor and maiko prints are among the finest shin hanga prints, and the print at auction is considered a masterpiece of the genre.

VG, minor flaws as shown