Hanga
Climbing Rope (Zairu) by Umetaro Azechi — Japanese Color woodblock print; edition 91/100, 1957

Climbing Rope (Zairu)

by Umetaro Azechi

Sōsaku-hanga
LandscapesFiguresMountains
Date:
1957
Medium:
Color woodblock print; edition 91/100
Edition:
Self-printed

Description

The 1957 Climbing Rope (Zairu), edition 91 of 100, shows Azechi's mountaineer in the fundamental technical act that distinguishes technical alpinism from mere hiking: the rope connecting two or more climbers, distributing the risk of falling across the roped team. The zairu—the climbing rope—appears in many of his prints as both practical equipment and symbolic object, the thin line that binds climbers together and, in theory, allows each to catch the other's fall. The near-complete edition number suggests strong contemporary demand.

More Prints by Umetaro Azechi

Unknown 1 - Snow man by Umetaro Azechi

Unknown 1 - Snow man

Woodblock print

Brilliance by Umetaro Azechi

Brilliance

1961

Color woodblock print; edition 10/100

Bird Perched On A Cherry Tree Branch by Umetaro Azechi

Bird Perched On A Cherry Tree Branch

Woodblock print

Untitled [portrait of a boy] by Umetaro Azechi

Untitled [portrait of a boy]

mid–20th century

Woodblock print, ink on paper

More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei) by Insho Domoto

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)

Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)" by Kawase Hasui

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami) by Utagawa Hiroshige

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)

n.d.

Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock PrintsSōsaku-Hanga: The Creative-Print MovementMeisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Climbing Rope (Zairu) was created by Umetaro Azechi (畦地梅太郎) in 1957.

Climbing Rope (Zairu) depicts landscapes, figures, and mountains.