Pencil Studies of Mr. Fujikake Shizuya

Catalog note / 解説

Fujikake Shizuya (1881-1958) was a professor of art at Tokyo Imperial University, a woodblock print scholar and author. Dr. Fujikake became friendly with William Hartnett (see a print in this exhibition: 16716) who was active in the First Thursday Society and persuaded him “to take up the cause of Onchi and his followers.” Recognizing the importance and talent of the hanga movement, in 1949 Dr. Fujikake rewrote his pre-war book Japanese Wood-block Prints for the Japan Travel Bureau, including and highlighting the work of the Sösaku hanga artists. This photographic enlargement shows the reverse of the drawing, with another sensitivity rendered depiction of the subject. - “Prelude to the prin…