This collection of contemporary woodblock prints uses time-honoured Edo techniques to depict Mount Fuji.
Comprising five pieces that each portray a different seasonal form of Mount Fuji.
This artwork is a modern take on the symbol of Japan, rooted in the Rimpa school.
Featuring the auspicious Mount Fuji, these woodblock prints were made using four distinct techniques.
Despite being a two-dimensional piece, artisan mastery is embedded throughout.
Traditional Edo woodblock printing is produced through a division of labour between the painter, carver, and printer, and it is said that "the carver creates the form, whilst the printer creates the picture".
In this piece, the vision of the designer, acting as the painter, has been brought to life through the skills of the printer.
The pieces can be enjoyed as part of your daily life by displaying them in frames to match your mood or the season.
It comes packaged in a box, making it the perfect gift.
This set represents a fusion of special traditional woodblock techniques inherited from the Edo period and contemporary graphics.
It is an exceptional piece where one can feel the joy of discovering genuine Edo woodblock techniques by touching, viewing, and appreciating the emotional sentiment of the work.
Takahashi Kobo
https://takahashi-kobo.com/english/
Founded during the Ansei period (1854-1860), Takahashi Kobo has been making woodblock prints for approximately 160 years, since the Edo period (1603-1867). Originally working as Surishi (the artisans who colour the woodblocks and print the final image) on Edo woodblock prints, the Takahashi family began publishing prints after their fourth generation took over. "The work of woodblock printing is the root of Japanese printing. From temple school textbooks to ukiyo-e prints and wrapping paper, Japanese printing has always been supported by the technique of woodblock printing," says Yukiko Takahashi, the sixth generation of the Takahashi family.
During the Edo period, ukiyo-e prints served the purpose of informative magazines. For example, in the image of a beautiful woman, fashion trends of the time such as the design of the kimono and furniture, hairstyle, and hand fan, were all depicted in meticulous detail. The artistic value of ukiyo-e is such that it is now recognized globally.
Currently, Takahashi Kobo prints a wide variety of themes using woodblock, from traditional ukiyo-e to modern art. Furthermore, Takahashi produces merchandise sold at museum exhibitions and also holds lectures, demonstrations, and workshops by artisans at museums and schools. Such initiatives, which give new life to the culture of Edo woodblock prints by sharing and experiencing of the history and techniques associated them, have been highly popular and more and more offers have been coming from overseas recently, such as from Paris and London.
However, Takahashi says, "Ukiyo-e prints remain the base of woodblock prints. As we make use of this rich tradition and culture, I would like to use all five senses to capture current trends, embody them, and use them to produce works that suit contemporary lifestyles."
