Maki, Haku (1924 - 2000 )
Haku Maki was an abstract woodblock printmaker active during the second half of the 20th century. Born in Asomachi, Ibaraki prefecture as Tadaaki Maejima, he served in WWII before becoming a high school teacher in 1950. Around this time he began to produce his mixed media-prints. He became a member of the Japan Print Association in 1958 and exhibition his prints at the annual College Women's Association of Japan print show from 1970 forward.
While Haku Maki began his printing process with carving a woodblock, he would the add cement around the carved areas. Once the cement had dried, he would carve over his original lines. This process produced the deep embossing so characteristic of his works. In terms of subject matter, Maki explored abstracted Chinese characters, though he branched out to depictions of ceramics and persimmons later in life. After 1960, he began to add spots of color to his compositions. A master of modern Japanese abstract printmaking, Haku Maki's work can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art New York, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the British Museum.
Modern Art | Modern Japanese Prints and Paintings
The 20th century saw the emergence of two modern Japanese print movements: Shin Hanga, or “new prints,” and Sosaku Hanga, or “creative prints.” Both sought an identity somewhere between centuries of rich cultural tradition and modern global character. With growing realism, changing techniques, and a newfound international audience, the Shin Hanga movement portrayed familiar Japanese themes through modern eyes. From sensual beauties and expressive actors, to atmospheric landscapes and sensitive nature studies, the principal genres of ukiyo-e reasserted themselves with renewed vigor. The Sosaku Hanga movement emphasized the participation of the artist in every aspect of production. From carving to printing, modern Japanese printmaking adopted a more spontaneous, expressive attitude through the artistic explorations of this movement. Ranging from figural to abstract, Sosaku Hanga flourished after WWII. Explore Ronin Gallery's selection of modern prints and paintings below.