SHIRAKABA J (White Birch J)
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- wbp
Description
White birch trees (shirakaba) were a beloved subject across Japanese modernist art, their pale silver bark and trembling leaves carrying associations of northern wilderness and a certain melancholy beauty. This print, designated "J" in what appears to be a series of related compositions, renders the birch forest as interlocking verticals — trunks forming a screen through which sky and distance are glimpsed. Kitaoka's geometric handling transforms the naturalistic subject into near-pure pattern while retaining the cool, clean atmosphere of the northern birch grove.
More Prints by Fumio Kitaoka
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
SHIRAKABA J (White Birch J) was created by Fumio Kitaoka (北岡文雄).
SHIRAKABA J (White Birch J) depicts landscapes and trees.