Description: Clifton Karhu woodblock print "Oike Doorway" 1973, 15/80. Pencil signed and dated. This was from the estate of a collector. It is in excellent condition, no stains or foxing. Framed professionally in Japan (see pics of reverse). Biography of Clifton Karhu: Born in Duluth, Minnesota, the late Clifton Karhu was one of the most acclaimed American woodblock artists to work in Japan. Though the son of two painters and artistically inclined from an early age, Karhu joined the military. Stationed at the American Navy base in Sasebo from 1946 to 1948, he fell in love with Japan. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Minneapolis Art School (1950-52) before returning to Japan in 1952, this time as a missionary of the Lutheran church. From Hiroshima to Kyoto, he and his wife sold bibles until he became disillusioned with the mission. Settling in Gifu prefecture, he returned to art, working in oils and watercolour. Karhu’s reputation grew swiftly, winning first prize at the Middle Pacific Art Group Exhibition, and held his first solo exhibition at Shin Gifu Gallery. In 1963, he moved to Kyoto. Immersed in the city’s vibrant artistic community, he began his successful career in woodblock printmaking. His self-carved and self-printed works portray traditional style houses and architectural details. Deeply expressive, yet precise and geometric, Karhu’s style has earned him enormous popularity worldwide. When asked about his medium, he states: “In Kyoto the vertical and horizontal lines of the tile roofs and the latticed windows strike a special harmony, like something alive. In my prints of Kyoto, I always strive to express this human warmth. Since wood accounts for much of Kyoto’s beauty, it may also be the best way that beauty can be expressed — through woodblock prints.”
Price: 745 USD
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
End Time: 2024-12-25T01:10:13.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Primary Material: Paper
Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original
Region of Origin: Japan
Age: Post-1940
