Japanese Woodblock Print 1941, later edition with embossed signature printed from the original woodblocks, self published by Toshi Yoshida with Jikoju seal (self-carved)

SIZE IN INCHES: chuban, approx. 8 x 11 inches

TOSHI YOSHIDA (1911-1995) was a Japanese printmaker and painter. He is best known for his association with the sosaku-hanga movement in the early 20th century. Sosaku-hanga principles involved the idea that a single artist would draw, carve, and print his own works, rather than dividing the tasks for assistants to carry out. Born on July 25, 1911 in Tokyo, Japan, his father was the famed landscape artist Hiroshi Yoshida. Toshi learned much of his technique from his father, and at 19 went on a sketching trip to India and Southeast Asia with him. While his father was alive, Toshi worked almost exclusively in the shin hanga style, but beginning after the death of Hiroshi Yoshida in 1950, Toshi distinguished himself by creating abstract works for the first time. He went on to make over 300 of these non-objective woodblock prints. The artist died at 93 years old on July 1, 1995 in Tokyo, Japan. His works are in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Fine, no flaws