Key value factors: As self-carved and self-printed works, sosaku-hanga value is tied to the artist's reputation and edition size. Larger formats, earlier editions, and historically significant works command the highest prices.
This woodblock print by Okano Sakae references Ogata Gekko, the prolific Meiji-era artist known for his newspaper illustrations, war triptychs, and refined bijin-ga subjects. Gekko was a versatile figure who worked across multiple genres and helped bridge the gap between traditional ukiyo-e and the modern Japanese art world. Okano's print, titled after this predecessor, may be a homage, a reinterpretation of one of Gekko's compositions, or a meditation on the artistic lineage connecting Meiji-era printmakers to their contemporary successors. Gekko's own work was notable for its clean draftsmanship and willingness to experiment with Western compositional techniques while remaining grounded in Japanese aesthetic traditions. Okano's engagement with Gekko's legacy suggests a printmaker who looks back across the decades to find points of connection with earlier masters of the medium.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Ogata Gekko was created by Okano Sakae (岡野栄).
Ogata Gekko depicts figures, bijin-ga, and portraits.
