Tanaka Kiyokichi
田中恭吉
Japan
Biography
Tanaka Kiyokichi (田中恭吉) is a name encountered in early twentieth-century Japanese print circles, but confirmed biographical details are scarce. No reliable birth or death dates appear in standard English-language or Japanese hanga reference works, and no movement affiliation has been firmly established. Prints attributed to Tanaka Kiyokichi suggest activity during the Taisho or early Showa era, a period when both the shin-hanga and sosaku-hanga movements were rapidly expanding the range of woodblock printmaking in Japan.
Some sources associate the name with a young artist connected to the Tsukuhae group and the magazine Tsukuhae, an early sosaku-hanga publication active around 1914–1915 in the circle of Onchi Koshiro and Fujimori Shizuo. If this identification is correct, Tanaka Kiyokichi was among the earliest practitioners of the creative-print ideal. However, without further archival confirmation, this connection should be treated as provisional rather than definitive.
Key Facts
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Subjects
- LandscapesAbstract
- Works Indexed
- 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanaka Kiyokichi (田中恭吉) is a name encountered in early twentieth-century Japanese print circles, but confirmed biographical details are scarce. No reliable birth or death dates appear in standard English-language or Japanese hanga reference works, and no movement affiliation has been firmly established. Prints attributed to Tanaka Kiyokichi suggest activity during the Taisho or early Showa era, a period when both the shin-hanga and sosaku-hanga movements were rapidly expanding the range of woodblock printmaking in Japan.
Tanaka Kiyokichi's prints frequently feature landscapes, abstract.
Original prints by Tanaka Kiyokichi can be found in collections including Art of Japan, The Art of Japan.
Tanaka Kiyokichi was active during the shin-hanga era and produced woodblock prints in the traditional Japanese aesthetic. Prints from this period benefit from strong collector interest. Prices range from $150 for more common subjects to $5,000 for rare designs in excellent condition. Most prints sell in the $480–$1600 range. Edition and condition are important price factors. The overall shin-hanga market has shown consistent strength.
