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Toys from the portfolio Hanga kanshōkai sakuhin-shū, Volume 1

Hatsuyama Shigeru (1897-1973)

Japanese Color Woodblock Print 

Toys from the portfolio

Hanga kanshōkai sakuhin-shū, Volume 1

by Hatsuyama Shigeru, 1980 (orig. 1959/1960)

Untitled (Children Playing Tug of War)


IHL Cat. #2072

About This Print

A magazine and book illustrator and print maker, the artist Hatsuyama Shigeru's pallet often goes to the soft blues and pinks. His work as a children's illustrator adds a note of fantasy to many of his prints. This print, featuring what appear to be children's dolls, appeared in volume 1 of the 2-volume set of small prints titled Hanga Kanshōkai Sakuhin-shū.


Hanga Kanshōkai Sakuhin-shū 
(Collection of Works by the Woodblock Print Appreciation Society)

From what I can deduce from available information, this two volume portfolio consisting of twenty-four small format prints by fifteen artists was published by the Yokohama publisher Chikuhōdō [竹芳洞 or 竹芳堂], under the name Hanga kanshōkai (Woodblock Print Appreciation Society), in 1959 or 1960 and re-issued at least once in 1980 in an edition of 200.*  The two-volume portfolio was originally issued in a limited edition of 700 copies for volume 1 and 500 copies for volume 2.  Each print was tipped-in to a mat measuring 14 1/2 x 11 1/8 in. (36.8 x 28.3 cm).  The prints along with a table of contents were placed in a brown paper envelope, as shown below. It appears that some of the prints in the two portfolios were re-issues of earlier designs.

Note that prints from the portfolios are still sold individually by Chikuhōdō on their website http://chikuhoudou.com/showa_ca2.html.

* the portfolios shown or referenced on line are variously dated 1958 by Saru Gallery, c. 1960 by Scholten Japanese Art, 昭和50年頃（c. 1975) by Yamada-Shoten and  昭和55 (1980) by the Japanese Association of Antique Book Dealers Natsume Books and the Aomori Museum. 

Prints included in Volume 1:

click on image to enlarge

1. Onsen by Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960)
2. Shirasagi Castle by Hashimoto Okiie (1899-1993)
3. Autumn leaves by Mizufune Rokushu (1912-1980)
4. Nasu in spring by Mabuchi Toru (1920-1994)
5. Child of the flowers by Takei Takeo (1894-1983)
6. Oku-nikko by Maeda Masao (1904-1974)
7. Suichuka-Artificial flower in the water by Seimiya Hitoshi (1886-1969)
8. Yamagata Daikoku Dance by Miyao Shigeo (1902-1983)
9. Toys by Hatsuyama Shigeru (1897-1973)
10. Pigeon in Florence by Sekino Junichiro (1914-1988)
11. Red face by Azechi Umetaro (1902-1999) 
12. Kitten by Inagaki Tomoo (1902-1980)

Prints included in Volume 2:

click on image to enlarge

1. Photography Studio (18.7 x 14 cm), by Kawakami Sumio (1895-1972)
2. Crystal (17.7 x 13.4 cm), by Maeda Masao (1904-1974)
3. Autumn at Lake Haruno (13.3 x 15.2 cm), by Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960)
4. Castle in Autumn (Matsue Castle) (17.5 x 12.7 cm), by Hashimoto Okie (1899-1993)
5. Somon (22.6 x 14.2 cm), by Yamaguchi Gen (1896-1976)
6. Stone Fish (21.8 x 14.7 cm), by Mizufune Rokushu (1912-1980)
7. Interior Still Life (21.2 x 13.1 cm), by Kawanishi Hide (1894-1965)
8. Haniwa (19 x 14.3 cm), by Mabuchi Toru (1920-1994)
9. Flower and Bird (12.6 x 17.2 cm), by Takei Takeo (1894-1983)
10. Poppies (14.2 x 17.7 cm), by Inagaki Tomoo (1902-1980)
11. The Observing Eye (23.8 x 18.2 cm), by Azechi Umetaro (1902-1999)
12. Moulin de la Galette, Paris (22.6 x 14.7 cm), by Sekino Jun'ichiro (1914-1988)

版画鑑賞会作品集
portfolio covers for volumes 1 and 2 original edition

index for volume 2 original edition

版画鑑賞
Portfolio covers for 1980 edition
click on image to enlarge

Print Details

 IHL Catalog #2072
 Title/Description
Toys 玩具
label on verso reading 初山滋 「玩具」
Hatsuyama Shigeru "Toys"
 Series Hanga Kanshōkai Sakuhin-shū 版画鑑賞会作品集
 Collection of Works by the Woodblock Print Appreciation Society
 Artist 
 Hatsuyama Shigeru (1897-1973)
 Signature 
unread, possibly 滋 Shigeru

 Seal not sealed
 Publication Date 1980 (originally 1959/1960)
 Edition unnumbered edition of 200
 Publisher 版画鑑賞会 竹芳洞 Hanga Kanshōkai and Chikuhōdō 
 Printer likely Chikuhōdō
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition excellent
 Miscellaneous
 Genre sosaku hanga (creative prints)
 Format chūban
 H x W Paper 6 5/8 x 7 13/16 in. (16.8 x 19.8 cm)
 H x W Image 6 x 7 1/4 in. (15.2 x 18.4 cm)
 Collections This Print
 Reference Literature
last revision:
4/22/2021 created