Dragon 10

Dragon 10 belongs to Hajime Namiki's Dragon series, in which the artist turns from his characteristic tree subjects to mythological imagery rooted in East Asian iconography. The print likely depicts a dragon (ryu) coiling through clouds or mist, a motif long associated in Japanese art with water, weather, and protective power. Namiki's mokuhanga handling renders such subjects through layered [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) gradations rather than the bold outlines of earlier [ukiyo-e](/glossary/ukiyo-e) dragon prints, producing a softer, more atmospheric effect. Each color is hand-carved into a separate block and printed with water-based pigments and the [baren](/glossary/baren) on handmade [washi](/glossary/washi). As the tenth recorded variation in the sequence, the work reflects Namiki's iterative method, refining a single motif across many prints. Within his wider catalogue—dominated by trees, Fuji, and night scenes—the Dragon series demonstrates the artist's engagement with traditional Japanese subject matter while maintaining the contemplative tonal register and quiet surfaces that define his contemporary mokuhanga practice.