Woman on Balcony

Catalog note / 解説

Traditional ukiyo-e print production required the collaboration of a publisher, designer, carver, and printer. However, Yamamoto broke with tradition by performing all of the designing, carving, and printing himself. He used his chisels in a direct, spontaneous manner, much as a painter might use brushes. In this fashion, he managed to achieve a high degree of personal expression through his printmaking. From ages eleven through nineteen Yamamoto was actually trained in Western wood engraving. However, Yamamoto later began to use the softer cherry-wood (used for traditional Japanese prints) rather than the end-grain hardwood block of the wood engraver. He also used Japanese hand-made paper.…