This is a beautiful Japanese wood block print from Takehiko Hironaga entitled’Aizu Village Winter (5)’ Made in 1980. The print is a limited edition, this is 23/50. There is the typical toning where the print met the mat which isn’t noticeable once framed. In overall excellent condition for a piece that is 40 years old. A perfect edition to any woodblock collectors collection. Picture will be mailed in a sturdy cardboard tube. Wide X 20 in. HIRONAGA, TAKEHIKO BIOGRAPHY 1935Born in Koriyama City. 1959Started sketching Minka (private houses of farmers). 1972Released the Miharu/Aizu series. 1977Held print show at Nakago Department Store, Fukushima 1979Held second show at Nakago Department Store, Fukushima. 1982Released prints of Akita/Kakunodate Series 1983Held an exhibition of 100 sketches of Minka in Fukushima (Koriyama). Held anexhibition of 100 sketches of Minka in the Prefectural Gallery, Sendai. 1984Held a print show of snowy districts at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Yokohama 1985Held a print show of Minka at the Mitsukoshi Store, Yokohama. 1986Held the second print show of Minka showing changes in the farmers houses at the Mitsukoshi Department Store, Yokohama. Held an exhibition of 100 sketches of private homes of his hometown at Mitsukoshi, Ginza 1987Held an exhibition of 100 sketches of street scenes in villages at the Koriyama Cultural Center. 1988Held a print exhibition showing the Charm of Minka at Mitsukoshi Department Store, Yokohama. 1990Held a second print exhibition of the Charm of Minka at Mitsukoshi Department Store, Yokohama. Held an exhibition showing the Charm of Minka at Nakago Department Store, Fukushima, 1991Exhibition of sketches at Miharu City, Fukushima. 1993Discontinued woodblock printing so that he would have time to repair the straw-thatched roofs of Minka. Hironaga was entirely self-taught. He began woodblock printing in 1970, using shina benia wood and water based colors. His paper is Ichizen hosho, a fine quality hand-made paper. In 1976, he saw an exhibition of Mr. Kiyoshi Saitos work and he knew immediately that he had found the inspiration he was looking for. He arranged through a friend to meet Mr. Saito and since that time they have met on several occasions to review his work. A friendship developed between the twoHironaga has taken his inspiration from Saitos work and Mr. Saito was proud and supportive of this young artist. When Kappy Hendricks visited Mr Saito at his home in Kamakura, in the 1980s, he apologized for the fact that so few prints were available for sale. He had heard from Mr. Hironaga that Kappy would be visiting Hironaga-san the next day. In the presence of Kappy Hendricks and her assistant, Saito proceeded to telephone Mr. Hironaga to remind him he needed to show her a lot of works. In that moment, the world learned which artist would be Mr. Hironaga refused to join any artists associations or mingle with other artists as he wanted to work freely without any restriction which might encumber his works. His entire goal in life (up to 1993) was to preserve graphically, for his fellowmen, the old historical houses of Japan (Minka) which were and still are rapidly disappearing as Japan continues her technological development. For 32 years, Hironaga traveled throughout the four islands of JapanHonshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and Kyushusketching scenes of these houses. On such trips, he did 50-60 sketches and from this group he chose two or three from which prints were made. His choice of subject depended on his empathy with the scenehe had no interest in what might become a highly desirable print from the collectors point of view. Consequently, because of his purist attitude, all of his works are unique documents of one of Japans most interesting architectural forms. The item “Takehiko Hironaga Japanese Woodblock Print’Aizu Village Winter (5) Rare 23/50″ is in sale since Wednesday, April 22, 2020. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “uhwarriorsfan” and is located in Lahaina, Hawaii. 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• Featured Refinements: Japanese Woodblock Print
• Region of Origin: Japan
• Type: Paintings, Scrolls & Prints