Volume 2 - Kaburagi Kiyokata

This oban woodblock print, dated 1977, is cataloged as part of a multi-volume publication on Kaburaki Kiyokata's work. Since Kaburaki died in 1972, this 1977 date refers to the publication of a posthumous collection rather than the creation date of the original artwork reproduced within it. Kaburaki was one of the twentieth century's foremost bijin-ga artists, and published volumes of his work served to preserve and disseminate his images to audiences who could not access the original prints. The woodblock prints in such volumes were sometimes reproductions made from the original blocks or faithful re-carvings that maintained the quality of the originals. This entry represents the intersection of Kaburaki's artistic legacy with the publishing industry that ensured his work remained visible after his death.