Biography
Hiratsuka Un'ichi (1895-1997) was one of the founding figures of the sosaku-hanga (creative print) movement in Japan. Born in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, he studied Western-style painting before turning to printmaking under the influence of Yamamoto Kanae, whose 1904 print "Fisherman" is considered the birth of sosaku-hanga. Hiratsuka became a tireless advocate for the principle that artists should design, carve, and print their own works, in contrast to the collaborative ukiyo-e and shin-hanga traditions.
Throughout his extraordinarily long career spanning over eight decades, Hiratsuka created more than 3,000 prints, predominantly bold black-and-white woodcuts characterized by strong contrasts and dynamic compositions. His subjects ranged from Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines to modern cityscapes, rendered with a distinctively powerful cutting technique. He was instrumental in organizing the Nihon Sosaku-Hanga Kyokai (Japan Creative Print Association) in 1918 and mentored generations of younger printmakers including Takeji Asano and Tomikichiro Tokuriki.
In 1962, Hiratsuka moved to Washington, D.C., where he continued to create prints and teach at several American universities until his return to Japan. He received numerous honors including the Order of the Sacred Treasure and was designated a Living National Treasure candidate. His longevity — he lived to 102 — made him a living link between the pre-war origins of sosaku-hanga and its postwar international recognition.
Key Facts
- Active Period
- 1895–1997
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Movement
- Sōsaku-hanga
- Works Indexed
- 325
Frequently Asked Questions
Hiratsuka Un'ichi (1895-1997) was one of the founding figures of the sosaku-hanga (creative print) movement in Japan. Born in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, he studied Western-style painting before turning to printmaking under the influence of Yamamoto Kanae, whose 1904 print "Fisherman" is considered the birth of sosaku-hanga. Hiratsuka became a tireless advocate for the principle that artists should design, carve, and print their own works, in contrast to the collaborative ukiyo-e and shin-hanga traditions.
Hiratsuka Un'ichi was active from 1895 to 1997. They were associated with the Sōsaku-hanga movement.
Hiratsuka Un'ichi's work was shaped by the Sōsaku-hanga tradition in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Sōsaku-hanga: ## What is sōsaku-hanga? Sōsaku-hanga (創作版画, "creative prints") was a twentieth-century Japanese print movement defined by a single commitment: the artist must design, carve, and print every work alone.
Hiratsuka Un'ichi's prints frequently feature landscapes, temples & shrines, architecture, birds & flowers, urban scenes, rivers & lakes.
Original prints by Hiratsuka Un'ichi can be found in collections including Minneapolis Institute of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Honolulu Museum of Art, Harvard Art Museums.
Series by Hiratsuka Un'ichi
Recollections of Tokyo
2 prints
of One Hundred Views of New Japan
1 print
Scenes After the Tokyo Earthquake
1 print
One Hundred Views of New Tokyo (Shin Tokyo hyakkei)
1 print
Prints of the Shinjuku Imperial Garden (Shinjuku Gyoen hanga)
1 print
Scenes After theTokyo Earthquake
1 print
Mantai Suriutsuchi No Uchi
1 print
Ten Views of Nara
2 prints