Saturday, October 21, 2023

Artist of the Day, October 21, 2023: Fumio Fujita, a Japanese woodblock printmaking (#1937)

Fumio Fujita (1933) is one of Japan's most well-known contemporary sosaku hanga artists. He studied at the Musashino College of Fine Arts and began creating woodblock prints in 1963. His subjects are nature based, and he is best known for his many images of trees, especially birch trees - a signature Fujita image.

He simplifies and reduces forms to their elements, bordering on abstract, with an emphasis on pattern and texture. Fujita’s prints are all pencil signed and numbered, limited editions. His works have been included in the prestigious Collage Women's Association of Japan (CWAJ) exhibitions several times. Fujita’s works are becoming increasing collectable, especially some of his earlier designs. His lovely prints would make a wonderful addition to any modern woodblock collection.

Sosaku Hanga - The sosaku hanga or creative print movement in Japan began in the early part of the twentieth century. Unlike the traditional collaborative woodblock printing process utilizing a separate artist, carver, and printer along with a publisher, the sosaku hanga movement emphasized artist involvement in designing, carving, and printing the blocks himself, as the sole creator of his work. The movement gained popularity following World War II, earning international acclaim and expanding subject matter to include abstraction. Today most contemporary Japanese print artists design, carve, and print their woodblocks themselves, continuing the vibrant creative tradition established with ukiyo-e. Sosaku hanga prints encompass a wide range of subjects and expressive artistic styles, and are a great choice for a collector interested in modern and contemporary prints

Over the years, his interests expanded to graphic design and woodblock printing. He began exhibiting his woodblock prints at the 1963 at Japan Print Association and continued to participate in numerous one-man shows and group exhibitions throughout the next several decades.

Somehow Fumio Fujita has been poorly managed during his later years. The same design of white-bark trees and woods published in different colors, and each color in different sizes.

© 2023. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Fumio Fujita or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only 

Fumio Fujita
Woodblock, 1962
 Abstract Color, 1963
 Bird in Tree, 1963
Untitled, 1963
Untitled, 1964
Colored abstract woodcut, 1965
Colored abstract woodcut, 1966
Colored abstract woodcut, 1966
Winter scene, 1966 detail
Winter scene, 1966
  Japanese, 1968
Abstract Color B, 1968
 Untitled, 1969
 Untitled, 1969
 Zebras, Nº. 3, 1969
 Trees, 1971
Two Birds Flying, 1971
Winter landscape, 1971
Modern Japanese Woodblock Print, 1972
 Trees with Bird, 1976
 Autumn Forest, 1977
 Flowers and a Bird, 1977
Horses, 1977
 White Trees and Birds Color woodblock, 1977.
Untitled, 1978
White birchtrees, 1989
 Autumn, 1990
 Untitled, 2003
Bird in flight

 

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