Original woodblock print, Umetaro Azechi 畦地梅太郎(1902-1999) – ‘Yama otoko 4’ 山男 4 – ca.1956- Japan

Description

Original woodblock print, Umetaro Azechi 畦地梅太郎(1902-1999) – ‘Yama otoko 4’ 山男 4( Mountain man 4) – ca.1956- Japan

memo
Azechi was born on December 28, 1902 to a poor farming family in what is now Uwajima, Ehime. He enrolled in an art correspondence course where he would send his work to Tokyo for critique.In 1920 he had the opportunity to move there, but returned home to Shikoku after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. He moved back to Tokyo in 1925, where he worked for a printing company.

Azechi’s prints were noticed by Unichi Hiratsuka, who took him under his wing. He belonged to the Japan Print Association and the Kokugakai Arts Association.After his works were shown in some of their exhibitions, he quit his job and became a freelance artist. During this time, he was heavily influenced by Maegawa Sempan [ja] and Kōshirō Onchi.

During World War II, Azechi was sent to Manchuria.When he returned to Japan, he also immediately returned to making art.