Untitled (soseki-komori)

This untitled print by Komori Soseki continues his exploration of natural subjects through woodblock technique. Soseki's prints were produced during the shin-hanga revival, when publishers sought to prove that traditional Japanese printmaking could remain vital in the modern era by commissioning new designs from trained artists. The production involved hand-carving separate blocks for each color in the image, then printing them in sequence onto moistened paper using a hand-held baren for pressure. Soseki's designs suited this labor-intensive process, their careful compositions and limited palettes allowing carvers and printers to achieve the highest quality in each impression. The result is work that rewards close examination.