Side Gate of a Confucian temple in Formosa

Medium:: Woodblock print
Edition:: Self-printed
Source:: Honolulu Museum of Art

Typical Price

$2,000–$50,000+. Common later works: $2,000–$5,000. Key value factors: As the founder of sosaku-hanga, Onchi's earliest abstract prints are historically important and command premiums.

Description

"Side Gate of a Confucian temple in Formosa" is a sosaku-hanga print by Onchi Koshiro, created during the Taisho and Showa periods. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.

Onchi Koshiro 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 lyrical abstractions explored poetry, music, and emotion through innovative techniques.

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 Onchi Koshiro's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Taisho and Showa periods. 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.