From a clean smoke, and pet-FREE home. Please view photos as they are part of the description. Frame: 11″ x 8.5″. Image: 7.75″ x 5.5″. Depicting trees in modern Japanese woodblock prints has become a popular and recurrent theme. While it’s uncertain whether Joichi Hoshi was the pioneer in embracing this subject extensively, it’s certain that he started focusing on woodblock prints featuring trees in the early 1970s, leading to his subsequent fame. Biography of Joichi Hoshi. Joichi Hoshi was born in 1913 in Niigata, Japan. Hoshi then pursued studies in oil painting at Musashino College of Fine Arts, graduating at the age of nearly 50 in 1956. Later, he embarked on a self-taught journey in woodblock print making, a surprising feat for those familiar with Joichi Hoshi’s works. His artistry exhibited no technical limitations; particularly, his later tree prints showcased intricate craftsmanship, including the application of genuine gold or silver pigments. Joichi Hoshi gained international recognition through his participation in various esteemed International Print Biennials during the 1950s and 1960s. Notably, he exhibited at the Tokyo International Print Biennials in 1959, 1961, and 1963, as well as at the International Print Biennial of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1967. Joichi Hoshi – Pioneer of Japanese Tree Prints. In the early 1970s, Joichi Hoshi ventured into specializing in tree imagery, ultimately becoming renowned for this art form. This specialization sparked a trend in Japanese art prints featuring trees, evolving into a popular subject. Many artists followed suit, creating their own “tree prints”. This trend continues, paralleled by other contemporary themes in Japanese printmaking such as depictions of old farmhouses or birds, particularly owls, represented in various shapes, styles, and colors. Joichi Hoshi’s tree prints are meticulously crafted using the traditional Japanese woodblock print making technique and are occasionally adorned with silver or gold pigments. Collectors and enthusiasts of modern Japanese prints highly value Joichi Hoshi’s intricate works, often commanding prices ranging from USD 500 to 1,000. It’s important to note that limited editions are generally more expensive than open editions, and smaller prints tend to be more affordable than larger ones. According to the Tolmans’ book Collecting Modern Japanese Prints Then and Now, it’s noted that Henry Kissinger acquired several prints by Joichi Hoshi during a trip to Tokyo. Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, Japan. Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA. National Museum of Far Eastern Art, Berlin, Germany. Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA. Rockefeller Foundation, New York, USA. Cleveland Museum of Art, USA.