Hand Printed Woodblock Prints | Kamogawa River | by Kenji Takenaka | Kyoto Interior Art | Takezasa-do

Art piece that brings "light and wind" to everyday life

Beyond the Shijo Ohashi Bridge, the Kamo River flows in a gentle curve parallel to the streets and promenade. 

The colorful color scheme depicts a river scene in bright sunlight on a sunny day.

These small Kyoto prints depict scenes of Kyoto.

Richness of color and texture" only possible with hand-printed woodblock prints

The traditional technique of carefully printing one color at a time delicately expresses the transparent and vivid blues and light-emitting colors of the river.

The size is slightly larger than a postcard. It can be easily displayed on a tabletop, in an entryway, on a shelf in the living room, or in any other small space.

Recommended for

Those who want to be healed by the morning light and waterfront scenery.

Those who want to feel the colors and warmth that only creative work can provide.

Looking for art that fits in a limited space?

Just by decorating your room, you can create a fresh morning air and a pleasant flow of time in your room. We hope you will incorporate it into your daily life and enjoy its peaceful and clean scenery.

A small but heartwarming piece suitable for gift-giving

The Kamo River is a place of relaxation for Kyotoites. This work of art, which is covered with a refreshing morning scene, will bring a "moment of relaxation" to the recipient's daily life, whether as a housewarming or housewarming gift or as a gift for a new home.

About Materials

For woodblock prints, we use white washi paper with a smooth surface. It is a good material for woodblock prints because of its good coloring and durability. 

It is painted using the traditional printing technique of "hand-printed woodblock prints," in which the pattern carved into the wood is colored on the paper one color at a time.

Woodblock print artist Kenji Takenaka

Kenji Takenaka, the creator of Ishibe Koji, is the fifth generation of Takenaka Mokuhan He is the fifth generation of Takenaka Mokuhan. He learned the art of woodblock printing from the current head of the company, Seihachi Takenaka, from an early age.

He captures his subjects with bold compositions and colors, and has a unique view of the world with his simple yet profound expressions.

He holds exhibitions in Kyoto and other cities, and proposes new ways to enjoy woodblock prints, not only by creating artworks, but also by offering designs using woodblock prints to companies.

Some of his works are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and through local workshops and woodblock prints, he has deepened exchanges and is active both in Japan and abroad. 

Brand "Takezasa-do

Takenaka Mokuhanga was founded in Kyoto in 1891 and has carried on the diverse techniques of Kyoto printmaking for over 130 years, from reproductions of Japanese paintings to commercial printing.

The current owner, Seihachi Takenaka, researched old techniques and passed them on to the younger generation, while the fifth generation, Kenji Takenaka, established Takezasa-do, creating new work and selling woodblock prints and paper stationery in his store.

Yuko Harada, the sixth generation, became popular for her fusion of traditional and modern designs, and Takezasa-do grew.

Currently, he is also involved in product packaging utilizing woodblock prints and restoration of old prints, always pursuing new possibilities.

Size

Painting: approx. 15.5 cm (length) x 10 cm (width)
Paper: approx. 19 cm (length) x 13.5 cm (width)

[Notes.

No frame is attached.

The edition number cannot be specified.

The color of the product may differ from the actual product from the image shown on the website due to light.