<b>POEM 11</b> / Haku Makic. 1960s$1,500</em>

Details

It may be a surprise to know that Haku Maki was enlisted in a special squadron of Kamikaze pilots during the second world war. Fortunately, Japan's surrender occurred before a mission was assigned to him. After the war, Maki served as a Vice Principal at an elementary school. Despite his formal position, Maki's longing for the creative arts may have summoned a chance to meet with the Sosaku Hanga artist Koshiro Onchi. Under Onchi's direction, the burgeoning artist received the inspirational sustenance and encouragement to produce artwork that pushed the boundaries of both the technical aspects of printmaking as well as accepted artistic subjects. As a result, Maki developed a highly innovative printmaking process of chiseling woodblocks and cement molds, which created deep embossing (raised reliefs) into the paper that provided his calligraphic-inspired designs a compelling three-dimensionality previously unseen in the medium.

This design is a fascinating synthesis of established Sosaku Hanga idioms and a highly original vision of the artist's own invention. The print features an enthralling pattern of embossing throughout the composition, while bold geometric forms of white, black, yellow, and gray populate the design. The upper right portion boasts a woodgrain-like formation that recalls the work of Onchi and his circle.

Connoisseur's Note

Poem 11 is a striking design with its elaborate embellishment of embossing showcases all the elements collect seek out in Maki prints. Further, the artist produced this rare work as his popularity began to rise. The edition of 50, a large number for the artist at the time, demonstrates his growth in stature. Maki went on to produce work in many large editions. Late in his career, prints executed in 200 and in some cases 300 impressions were not uncommon, thus making this rare early work that much more desirable for the discriminating collector.