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Archive: Tokuriki, Tomikichirô (徳力富吉郞)

Description:
Original block carved on both sides for the keyblock and a color block plus trial proof and published impressions for Front Gate of Atsuta Jingû, no. 14 in the series Seichi shiseki meisho
Signature:
Tomikichirô (富吉郞) in image and (Tomikichirô saku: 富吉郞作) in right margin
Seals:
None
Publisher:
Uchida Bijutsu Shoshi han (Uchida Art Company: 内田美術書肆版) in Kyoto
Date:
9/1941
Format:
(H x W)
Large ôban: 28.7 x 42.0 cm
Block: 30.0 x 40.5 cm
Impression:
Very good
Condition:
Published Print: Excellent impression, color, condition
Proof Print: Very good impression and colorcolor; moderately good condition
Block: Very good condition
Price (USD/¥):
SOLD

Inquiry (Ref #TKR02)

Comments:
Background

Tokuriki Tomikichirô was born in Kyoto. He graduated from the Kyoto City School of Fine Arts and Crafts and the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting in 1924. He also studied nihonga (Japanese-style painting: 日本画) at the private school of Tsuchida Bakusen (1887-1936) and with Yamamoto Shunkyo (1871-1933). From 1929 Tokuriki focused on mokuhanga (block prints: 木版画), and he also actively promoted sôsaku hanga ("creative prints": 創作版画) in Kyoto. He published many sets and series before World War II, and afterwards established the Matsukyû Publishing Co. to produce and distribute his prints and through its subdivision, Kôrokusha, to publish self-carved and self-printed hanga as well as works by other artists such as Kotozuka Eiichi (1906-1979), Takahashi Tasaburô (1904-1977), and Kamei Tôbei (1901-1977). For much of his long life Tokuriki taught many artisans and artists, some of them non-Japanese, and he traveled extensively, thus his influence was significant in the world of hanga. He is perhaps best known to Westerners through his many print designs in the shin hanga ("new prints": 新版画) manner for various series published by the three main Kyoto firms — Uchida, Unsôdô, and Kyoto Hanga-in — but his self-carved, self-printed sôsaku hanga are more highly considered by collectors and curators. The artist recognized this dichotomy, saying, "I'd rather do nothing but creative prints, but after all, I sell maybe ten of them against two hundred for a publisher-artisan print."

Atsuta Jingû is a Shinto shrine believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikô (71-130) located in Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. Familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama (Venerable Atsuta) or simply Miya (the Shrine), it has long been especially revered, ranking with the Great Shrine of Ise. The shrine's buildings were maintained through donations from benefactors, including celebrated figures such as Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536/37-1598), and the Tokugawa shoguns (1600-1868). During World War II, many of the shrine's buildings were destroyed by fire. The shrine's main buildings, such as the honden (main hall: 本殿), were reconstructed and completed in 1955. Construction of other buildings continued; in 1966 the Treasure Hall was completed in order to house the collection of objects, manuscripts, and documents. The shrine's Bunkaden, or treasure hall, houses over 4,000 relics, including 174 Important Cultural Properties (jôyô bunkazai: 重要文化財) and dagger designated a national treasure (kokuhô: 国宝).

Design

Note: Since our original listing, we have been able to add the published impression, with no price increase.

The Front Gate of Atsuta Jingû is no. 14 in the series Seichi shiseki meisho (Scenes of Sacred Places and Historic Landmarks: 聖地史蹟名勝). Published by Uchida on Sept. 20, 1941, the 50-print set features scenes from Japan's historic shrines, temples, castles, and other man-made and natural structures like bridges and waterfalls. The set was republished in 1988, but was machine printed.

The prints include a trial proof and as such was treated somewhat roughly, leaving creases and uneven edges. The published impression is in very good condition.

Original blocks are exceedingly rare. A number of Tokuriki's blocks came on the market in recent years, this being one of them.