Japanese Woodblock Print, 1959, 1st edition, self published, pencil signed, titled, dated and numbered 417/510

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, 11.75 x 16.3 inches

COMMENTS: Included in the book "The Modern Japanese Print, An Appreciation by James Michener.

SHIMA TAMAMI (1937-1999) There is surprisingly little information on this well-regarded woman sosaku hanga artist who passed away in 1999. Born in Hirosaki, Amori Prefecture on August 11, 1937 she graduated from Tokyo Women's University of Arts (Women's College of Fine Arts) in 1958. There is no information about who she studied with and what led her to the create woodblock prints, but she was sufficiently talented to have received a travel grant in 1962 from the College Women's Association of Japan and to have her print Tori B (Bird B) included in James Michener's 1962 seminal book and print portfolio The Modern Japanese Print, An Appreciation. In commenting in his book on the two women artists included in the portfolio, Iwami Reika (b. 1927) and Shima, Michener notes, "... for two women to win prizes in a competition such as the present one signalizes a triumph of no small proportion. It has never been easy for women to attain prominence in Japanese art, and for two such young ones to have done so is indeed an accomplishment."

VG, minor flaws as shown