A large unique stencil print with blue and black ink on rough Japan paper (washi), 54 x 38 cm, signed and dated in pencil Y. Mori 1958 and with artist's seal. Unique print. Very fine condition.
The print depicts a scene from Shinbashi (新橋 lit. "New Bridge", sometimes transliterated Shimbashi), a district of Minato, Tokyo.
Mori Yoshitoshi (森 義利, October 31, 1898 – May 29, 1992) was a Japanese artist who specialised in kappazuri stencil prints. He became interested in stencils through his work as a textile designer using stencil dyeing techniques. His textile work brought him in touch with the Mingei ('folk crafts') movement, of which he was for many years a member and close with its founder Yanagi Sōetsu. It was not until the 1950s that Yoshitoshi began creating works on paper, quickly becoming known as one of the key artists of the sosaku hanga movement. He was criticized by Yanagi Sōetsu in a major debate in 1962, who accused Yoshitoshi of abandoning the Mingei movement, after which he distanced himself from the movement even more so, and began to focus more exclusively on kappazuri stencil prints.
Yoshitoshi exhibited his works in numerous one-man shows in Japan in the 1960s, and took part in thirty international exhibitions between 1957 and 1977. He died on May 29, 1992, immediately following the end of what would be his final one-man gallery show, held at the Wako Gallery Tokyo.
Works by Mori can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago, LACMA and The British Museum, London, among others.