Kotozuka Eiichi (1906-1979) Japanese, Woodblock Print "Hirosawa Pond." 

Condition: Good. 

Overall: 21 3/4 x 16 1/4 in. 

Sight: 16 x 10 1/2 in. 

#5051 #15j . 

Kotozuka Eiichi was born in 1906 in Osaka. He attended the Kyoto Technical School of Painting, graduating in 1930. He was one of the founders of the Seiryusha Group of Liberal Artists while attending school, which wanted to give opportunities to artists to explore more surreal and abstract styles in their work. From 1932 he exhibited prints with Shun Yokai (Spring Principle Association), an artist’s organization that exhibited Western-style art. Nevertheless, his surviving work from before World War II was primarily woodblock prints in the shin-hanga style that revitalized traditional ukiyo-e art. After the invasion of Manchuria the militaristic government began to crack down violently on political dissidents, and artists came under particular scrutiny for any supposed "anti-Japanese" or "decadent" sentiments, which may account for the dichotomy between his actions and his works in this period. He exhibited in the government-run exhibition Teikoku Bijutsu Tenrankai (or “Teiten” for short) in 1934, and was a member of the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japan Print Association) from 1938 onward. After the War his style changed, and he became a major proponent of the sosaku-hanga (creative prints) style, working primarily with Uchida Publishing, who produced his most famous series “Eight Snow Scenes of Kyoto.” He worked with several other artists to found the Koryokusha printing group in 1948 and promote sosaku-hanga. No matter how he worked, Kotozuka was always deeply inspired by the natural beauty and cultural heritage of his surroundings, which he often depicted in his prints. His images are characterized by delicate lines, vibrant colors, and attention to detail, capturing the essence of Japanese landscapes, flora, and historical scenes. His contributions to Japanese art, particularly in the Post-War period, have been celebrated for blending tradition with modernity. In his later life he collaborated with many artists, particularly Tomikichiro Tokuriki, and illustrated a children’s book. He had no known disciples or children, and died on March 11th, 1979 in Kyoto.

Good.