by Maki Haku
"Poem 71-39" is a sosaku-hanga print by Maki Haku, created during the Showa period. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.
Maki Haku approaches abstraction through the unique constraints and possibilities of woodblock printing, where the grain of the wood, the pressure of the baren, and the interaction of pigment and paper all contribute to the final image. His 'Poem' series explored the spiritual dimensions of written language through printmaking.
As a 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.
This print represents Maki Haku's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Showa period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
c. 1837/42
Color woodblock print; chuban
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Poem 71-39 was created by Maki Haku (巻白).
Poem 71-39 depicts literary.
