Basket (2) (527)

A study of a single traditional basket — likely woven from bamboo, wisteria vine, or cypress strip — this print belongs to the still-life strand of postwar mokuhanga in which everyday rural objects are isolated for sustained attention. Japanese baskets, whether used for carrying produce, charcoal, or tea utensils, carry a long association with hand craftsmanship and rural utility, and their woven structure offers exceptional graphic interest: regular weave patterns alternating with knots, handles, and irregular fiber. Rendering such textures in woodblock requires meticulous keyblock carving to record each crossing strand, with subtle color overprints suggesting age, dust, or shadow within the basket's interior. As the second print in a numbered sequence, this work invites comparison with related compositions exploring the same form from a different angle or in a different setting. The choice of subject is consistent with Tanaka's wider attention to the material objects of Japanese country life — vessels, doors, walls — observed without sentiment.