Yoshijiro Urushibara trained as a woodblock carver and printer in Japan.
He came to England in 1908 aged nineteen, and in 1910 demonstrated printing techniques at the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition in London. He settled in England, occasionally traveling in Europe until he had to return to Japan in 1940 due to the Second World War.
His talents led to collaborations with other artists. From 1917 he worked with Frank Brangwyn, interpreting Brangwyn’s designs in woodcuts.
He is perhaps most famous for his striking woodcuts of flowers – which he designed, cut, and printed. They have a delicacy and feature the most subtle colours. Each of which is printed with a different block. They were released in editions of 150 impressions - after which the blocks were reputed to have been destroyed.
This attractive woodblock print by Urushibara dates to around the 1930s. It is No. 27 from an edition signed and numbered proofs. It is entitled Carnations and is pencil signed on the margin, lower right.
The image shows a little arrangement of dark red and orange flowers heads in a black oriental vase. I love all the leaves with their tiger stripe ribs on them. To the back of the vase on the table is a little porcelain teacup. It has the artist's Japanese seal to the right of the vase in the image.
Dimensions: Image size is 38.5 x 28 cm.
A lovely impression of this most sought-after floral print by Urushibara - it has no condition issues, apart from a tiny crease to the right-hand edge margin, as photographed. The sheet has not been laid down and is loose - which is good.
PROVENANCE: This impression is from the collection of Sterling Maxwell and had once been housed at Pollock House, Glasgow. It has never been framed and had been kept in a solander box - as such there has been no fading to the work etc.
It has a window mount - and is being sold UNFRAMED.
UK postage will be £10 for tracked postage - this will be applied at check out.