Kasamatsu Shiro: Leek Flowers (Cat and Leeks) Negi no hana

Artist: Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)
Title: Leek Flowers (Cat and Leeks) Negi no hana  Date: 1958

A striped gray cat peers out between stalks of flowering leek plants. A charming design that was produced in several editions by the artist. This “B”edition always seems to have been printed in shades of gray and is presumably the second edition. The first edition and the third edition (A and C) were done with palettes of blue. This coloration feels more experimental and somehow mysterious. This design is one of the artist’s most sought-after self-printed works.

Between 1955 and 1965 Kasamatsu produced about 80 self-carved and self-printed designs, as here. This followed a collaboration with the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo between 1919 and the late 1940s. “Kasamatsu ventured out on his own, carving, printing, and selling his prints. In doing so, he followed the credo of the sôsaku hanga ("creative print": 創作版画) movement — jiga, jikoku, jizuri ("self-painted [drawn or designed], self-carved, self-printed": 自画 自刻 自摺).”  

Numbered in pencil at right  “B18/45”.  Titled “Negi no hana”, dated “1958” and signed by the artist in pencil, lower margin. Artist’s seal lower left.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Very faint mat line visible in margin.
Dimensions: 41.4 x 28.4 cm
Publisher: Self-printed
Signature: Shiro Kasamatsu. 

SKU: SHR022