Hokusai Woodblock Java Sparrow And Magnolia

Product Description

Hokusai Woodblock Java Sparrow And Magnolia

Hokusai Woodblock Print Java Sparrow and Magnolia (Bunchô, kobushi no hana).  From an Untitled Series known as Small Flowers. A Java Sparrow is perched on a flowering magnolia tree.

Originally published in the 1800s this edition published in mid 20th Century by Oedo Mokuhansha.

The inscription on the woodblock print is a Chinese poem by the literati painter Chen Shun (1483-1544)
「東風日夜発　桃李不禁吹　検点濃華事　辛夷落較遅　陳淳」

A beautifully detailed and genuine woodblock print masterfully hand re carved and printed on washi.

Signed

Saki no Hokusai Iitsu hitsu 前北斎為一筆

Markings

The Censors Seal and Publisher details will be released to the purchaser of the print.

Approximate dimensions of sheet: Height 41 cm and Width 26.5 cm and approximate dimensions of print Height 35.5 cm and width 23 cm

Shipping is via Australia Post with tracking and is approximately 8 business days to most international locations.

Katsushika Hokusai 1760 – 1849

Hokusai was born to an artisan family in Edo, Japan.  His childhood name was Tokitarō.  His father never made Hokusai an heir and it is possible that his mother was a concubine.   Hokusai began painting around the age of six.

At 12 Hokusai went to work in a bookshop and at 14 he also became an apprentice to a wood-carver.  At 18 he was also accepted into the studio of Katsukawa Shunshō where he would learn to master the art of ukiyo-e.   Ukiyo-e focused on images of the courtesans as well as Kabuki actors who were popular in Japan cities at the time.

Hokusai also changed the subjects of his works from the images of courtesans and actors.  Instead, his work became focused on landscapes and images of the daily life of Japanese people from a variety of social levels.  This change of subject was also a breakthrough in the world of ukiyo-e and in Hokusai’s career. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai