Kusa no Mitori explores botanical subject matter through Sekino's bold sosaku-hanga aesthetic. The natural forms provided an organic counterpoint to his more geometric portrait compositions. This hand-pulled limited edition generally sells for $200-$600, with the nature theme attracting a broad range of collectors.
"Kusa no mitori" — literally "grass sketching from life" — is a title that points toward the act of outdoor observational drawing rather than a named subject. The print likely depicts a figure in a natural setting engaged in the act of drawing, a meta-subject that places the artistic process itself at the center of the composition. Sekino's interest in the figure-in-landscape as a vehicle for reflecting on creativity gives this work its layered quality.
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Woodblock print
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Kusa no mitori was created by Jun'ichiro Sekino (関野準一郎).
Kusa no mitori uses Nishiki-e, Moku-hanga, and Kento, on woodblock print.
Kusa no mitori depicts landscapes, figures, and craftspeople.
