Sakuhin 1 (Work No. 1)

"Sakuhin 1" is a contemporary mokuhanga print by Kusaka Kenji, created during the postwar-contemporary. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.

Kusaka Kenji approaches abstraction through the unique constraints and possibilities of woodblock printing, where the grain of the wood, the pressure of the [baren](/glossary/baren), and the interaction of pigment and paper all contribute to the final image. Kusaka Kenji is a Japanese woodblock printmaker from Okayama Prefecture who trained under Nagare Koji and mastered traditional woodblock techniques, gaining international recognition through print biennials in the 1960s.

As a [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) work — designed, carved, and printed entirely by the artist's own hand — this print embodies the creative philosophy that the printmaker's personal expression should permeate every stage of production, from concept to finished impression.