Sasajima Kihei: Black Cat, White Cat

Artist: Sasajima Kihei (1906-1993)
Title: Black Cat, White Cat  Date: 1957

Friendly face-off between a black cat and a white cat, our viewpoint from the unusual perspective of behind the black cat. This self-printed artist chose very heavy paper for this print, perhaps to better capture the textures of the woodgrain in the background blocks. The black cat also has an extra substance added to its surface, what looks to be a thin layer of mica.

Sasajima Kiehi was born in 1906 in Mashiko, Tochigi prefecture. He studied independently with Hiratsuka Un’ichi in 1935 and Munakata Shiko in 1936, and worked as a teacher until 1945. He was a member of the Nihon Hanga Kyokai between 1948-1952. The artist exhibited in the Tokyo Biennale 1957-1966 and the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1967. After 1962, he focused his art entirely on religious subject matter. In the 1950s Sasajima created a number of charming designs of cats. A scarce design, and numbered “A.P.” (Artist’s Proof) and dated ‘57.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. With minor tape stains in the small corners, verso. Dimensions: 37 x 27  cm
Signed: Signed "K. Sasajima" in  pencil. Artist's seal in red, lower right.

SKU: KIH010