"Untitled" is a [sosaku-hanga](/glossary/sosaku-hanga) print by Umetaro Azechi, created during the Showa period. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.
Umetaro Azechi approaches abstraction through the unique constraints and possibilities of woodblock printing, where the grain of the wood, the pressure of the [baren](/glossary/baren), and the interaction of pigment and paper all contribute to the final image. His bold, almost childlike style with vivid colors celebrates the joy of mountain life.
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 Umetaro Azechi's contribution to the sosaku-hanga tradition during the Showa period. 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.

1944 (printed c. 1950 from recut block?)
Color woodblock print; oban

1944 (printed c. 1950 from recut block?)
Color woodblock print; oban

1945
Color woodblock print

1961
Color woodblock print; edition 10/100
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Untitled was created by Umetaro Azechi (畦地梅太郎).
Untitled depicts figures, mountains, and abstract.