Page 216 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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ONCHI KOSHIRO (1891-1955)
Daibingu (Diving)
Woodblock print with mica, circa 1932, unsigned, embossed K.
Onchi and a jizuri seal
15æ x 12Ωin. (40 x 31.7cm.)
$10,000-20,000

PROVENANCE:
F. Kawasaki Collection
LITERATURE:
Onchi Koshiro, ed., Onchi Koshiro hanga shu/Prints of Onchi Koshiro
(Tokyo: Keishosha, 1975), no. 179.
For another print, see The National Museum of Modern Art,
Tokyo, ed., Onchi Koshiro to “Tsukubae”/Koshiro Onchi and
“Tsukubae” (Tokyo: The National Museum of Modern Art, 1976),
pl. 109; Onchi Koshiro hangashu/prints of Onchi Koshiro (Tokyo:
Keishosha, 1975), pl. 179, p. 275.

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ONCHI KOSHIRO (1891-1955) Onchi was trained in traditional calligraphy which he received
Bijin Shiki (Beauty in Each Season) from his father and also in western art. After failing to enter Daiichi
koto gakko (First High School), he studied oil painting at Aoibashi
The complete set of Bijiin shiki (Beauty in Each Season), each titled
Le Printemps (Spring), L’Eté (Summer), L’Automne (Autumn) and branch school of Hokubakai. Encouraged by Takehisa Yumeji
L’Hiver (Winter), woodblock prints, 1927, unsigned, accompanied in 1909, he entered Tokyo School of Fine Arts, studying first oil
by original covers with embossed painting and then sculpture. In 1913, he began to plan the print
titles as above, signature Onchi Ko and date 1927, and by frontispiece and poetry magazine Tsukubae with his fellow students Tanaka
with printed series title, signature and date Kyohei and Fujimori Shizuo.
11º x 9. 1/8 in. (28.5 x 23.1cm.)
In 1916, he joined the poets Muroo Saisei and Hagiwara Sakutaro
$40,000-60,000 in starting the poetry magazine Kanjo in which he contributed
cover designs, poems and prints. In 1917, he published his first
PROVENANCE: prints collection, Happiness (Kofuku). He participated in the first
F. Kawasaki Collection Nihon Sosaku-Hanga Kyokai exhibition and, in 1921, began
publication of the general art magazine Naizai with Otsuki Kenji
LITERATURE:
Onchi Koshiro, ed., Onchi Koshiro hanga shu/Prints of Onchi Koshiro and Fujimori Shizuo. He was a founding member of Nihon Hanga
(Tokyo: Keishosha, 1975), no. 109, 110, 111 & 112. Kyokai and also exhibited prints in Teiten and Kokugakai. By
1927, Onchi had established a reputation as a book designer.
Onchi’s contribution as a traditionalist and innovator can be well
seen in his single prints. He was one of the founders of the sosaku
hanga movement. Unlike traditional woodblock print makers, these
artists were inspired by painting and did every stage of production
themselves, then circulating the finished works to a small
selected circle. His prints were produced in very small editions,
demonstrating his skill to unique prints.