Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) American/Japanese, Woodblock Print "Kiyomizu Temple". Woodblock print depicting a vivid, modern depiction of traditional Japanese architectural elements in bold outlines and saturated tones. Artist information verso. Framed.

Overall Size: 14 x 20 in.
Sight Size: 10 x 12 in.

Clifton Karhu (1927–2007) was a prominent American-born artist who achieved international acclaim as one of Japan's most celebrated modern woodblock (sōsaku-hanga) printmakers. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, he first encountered Japan while serving in the U.S. military during the post-WWII occupation. After studying at the Minneapolis School of Art and working briefly as a missionary, Karhu permanently settled in Japan to fully commit to his artistic career, eventually adopting a traditional Japanese lifestyle, fluent language skills, and classic attire. Transitioning from oils and watercolors to woodblock printing in the early 1960s, he developed a distinctive modern style marked by strong architectural lines, vibrant color block palettes, and geometric compositions depicting everyday scenes of Kyoto and Kanazawa, including latticed machiya townhouses and traditional rooflines. Karhu became the first non-Japanese member of the Nihon Hanga Kyōkai (Japan Print Association), and his extensive body of work is held in major permanent museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Harvard Art Museums.

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