1950s Tomikichiro Tokuriki - Soba Noodle Wagon & Noodle Restaurant Rainy Night - Set of 2

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This is a pair of woodblocks often thought of as a set because of the related subject and that they … Read more This is a pair of woodblocks often thought of as a set because of the related subject and that they are both nocturnal. I had them re-matted so I know they have not been glued down and found that in addition to the signatures in the prints themselves, they are also hand signed in the margins (see next to last photo). I also had them backed with archival, acid-free board. I love the haunting beauty of these two, showing a glimpse of Japanese life in the early post-war era.

Pair woodblocks on paper, c. 1950-51, image size 9" x 14" each, framed and matted under glass. Outside frame dimensions: 15" x 19".

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Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902–1999) was one of the most versatile Japanese printmakers of the 20th century. He came from a long line of Kyoto-based artists, a family heritage dating back to the Keicho era (1596–1615). Collectors often recognize him for his refined pastel-colored landscape prints, but his lifelong commitment to sosaku hanga (creative prints) reveals a much deeper artistic legacy.

Tokuriki was born on March 22, 1902, in Kyoto, Japan. He first studied art under his grandfather before entering the Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts, where he completed two years of preparatory courses and four years of regular studies. He then attended the Kyoto College of Art for an additional three years, graduating in 1923. He lived and worked in Kyoto until his death in 1999.

During his student years, Tokuriki became deeply interested in the sosaku hanga movement, which emphasized the artist’s direct involvement in designing, carving, and printing. Trained by a professional carver and an ukiyo-e printer, he mastered the entire printmaking process. This personal engagement embodied the core principles of creative printmaking.

Tokuriki joined the Hanga Association, collaborating with leading figures such as Unichi Hiratsuka, Masao Maeda, Kihachiro Shimozawa, Hide Kawanishi, and Shiko Munakata. Through this network, he became one of the central Kyoto-based advocates of sosaku hanga. See less