Hanga

Sōsaku-hanga

創作版画

The "Creative Prints" movement

c. 1905–1980

About Sōsaku-hanga

The "creative prints" movement (c. 1905–present) emphasized the artist as sole creator — designing, carving, and printing their own works. This broke from the traditional division of labor in ukiyo-e and was influenced by Western notions of individual artistic expression.

Sōsaku-hanga Artists (78)

Doshun Mori, Japanese print artist

Doshun Mori

森道春

Hiromitsu Nakazawa, Japanese print artist

Hiromitsu Nakazawa

中沢弘光

1874–1964

Kosaka Gajin, Japanese print artist

Kosaka Gajin

上坂雅人

1877–1953

Oda Kazuma, Japanese print artist

Oda Kazuma

織田一磨

1882–1956

Ishii Hakutei, Japanese print artist

Ishii Hakutei

石井柏亭

1882–1958

Kanae Yamamoto, Japanese print artist

Kanae Yamamoto

山本鼎

1882–1946

Kogan Tobari, Japanese print artist

Kogan Tobari

戸張孤雁

1882–1927

Oda Kazuma, Japanese print artist

Oda Kazuma

織田一磨

1882–1956

Wada Sanzo, Japanese print artist

Wada Sanzo

和田三造

1883–1967

T

Takeo Terasaki

寺崎武男

1883–1967

Maekawa Senpan, Japanese print artist

Maekawa Senpan

前川千帆

1888–1960

Onchi Koshiro, Japanese print artist

Onchi Koshiro

恩地孝四郎

1891–1955

Fujimori Shizuo, Japanese print artist

Fujimori Shizuo

藤森静雄

1891–1943

Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Japanese print artist

Kiyoshi Hasegawa

長谷川潔

1891–1980

Nagase Yoshio, Japanese print artist

Nagase Yoshio

永瀬義郎

1891–1978

Kishio Koizumi, Japanese print artist

Kishio Koizumi

小泉癸巳男

1893–1945

Aoyama Masaharu, Japanese print artist

Aoyama Masaharu

青山正治

1893–1969

Hide Kawanishi, Japanese print artist

Hide Kawanishi

川西英

1894–1965

Sumio Kawakami, Japanese print artist

Sumio Kawakami

川上澄生

1895–1972

Hiratsuka Un'ichi, Japanese print artist

Hiratsuka Un'ichi

平塚運一

1895–1997

Henmi Takashi, Japanese print artist

Henmi Takashi

逸見享

1895–1944

Sakuichi Fukazawa, Japanese print artist

Sakuichi Fukazawa

深沢索一

1896–1947

Gen Yamaguchi, Japanese print artist

Gen Yamaguchi

山口源

1896–1976

Kanenori Suwa, Japanese print artist

Kanenori Suwa

諏訪兼紀

1897–1932

Shiro Kasamatsu, Japanese print artist

Shiro Kasamatsu

笠松紫浪

1898–1991

Yoshitoshi Mori, Japanese print artist

Yoshitoshi Mori

森義利

1898–1992

Okiie Hashimoto, Japanese print artist

Okiie Hashimoto

橋本興家

1899–1993

Takeji Asano, Japanese print artist

Takeji Asano

浅野竹二

1900–1999

Tomikichiro Tokuriki, Japanese print artist

Tomikichiro Tokuriki

徳力富吉郎

1902–1999

Umetaro Azechi, Japanese print artist

Umetaro Azechi

畦地梅太郎

1902–1999

Tomoo Inagaki, Japanese print artist

Tomoo Inagaki

稲垣知雄

1902–1980

Inagaki Toshijiro, Japanese print artist

Inagaki Toshijiro

稲垣稔次郎

1902–1963

Shiko Munakata, Japanese print artist

Shiko Munakata

棟方志功

1903–1975

M

Maeda Masao

前田政雄

1904–1974

Maeda Masao, Japanese print artist

Maeda Masao

前田政雄

1904–1974

Waichi Hayashi, Japanese print artist

Waichi Hayashi

林和一

1905–1975

Kihei Sasajima, Japanese print artist

Kihei Sasajima

笹島喜平

1906–1993

Saito Kiyoshi, Japanese print artist

Saito Kiyoshi

斎藤清

1907–1997

Gihachiro Okuyama, Japanese print artist

Gihachiro Okuyama

奥山儀八郎

1907–1981

Takumi Shinagawa, Japanese print artist

Takumi Shinagawa

品川工

1908–2009

Tadashige Ono, Japanese print artist

Tadashige Ono

小野忠重

1909–1990

Yozo Hamaguchi, Japanese print artist

Yozo Hamaguchi

浜口陽三

1909–2000

Toshi Yoshida, Japanese print artist

Toshi Yoshida

吉田遠志

1911–1995

Hiroyuki Tajima, Japanese print artist

Hiroyuki Tajima

田島博之

1911–1984

Keiko Minami, Japanese print artist

Keiko Minami

南桂子

1911–2004

Nakao Yoshitaka, Japanese print artist

Nakao Yoshitaka

中尾義隆

1911–1994

Fujimaki Yoshio, Japanese print artist

Fujimaki Yoshio

藤牧義夫

1911–1935

Mizufune Rokushu, Japanese print artist

Mizufune Rokushu

水船六洲

1912–1980

Sadao Watanabe, Japanese print artist

Sadao Watanabe

渡辺禎雄

1913–1996

Hideo Hagiwara, Japanese print artist

Hideo Hagiwara

萩原英雄

1913–2007

Toko Shinoda, Japanese print artist

Toko Shinoda

篠田桃紅

1913–2021

Joichi Hoshi, Japanese print artist

Joichi Hoshi

星襄一

1913–1979

Jun'ichiro Sekino, Japanese print artist

Jun'ichiro Sekino

関野準一郎

1914–1988

Kaoru Kawano, Japanese print artist

Kaoru Kawano

川野薫

1916–1965

Yoshida Masaji, Japanese print artist

Yoshida Masaji

吉田政次

1917–1971

Takahashi Rikio, Japanese print artist

Takahashi Rikio

高橋力雄

1917–1998

Fumio Kitaoka, Japanese print artist

Fumio Kitaoka

北岡文雄

1918–2007

Kumi Sugai, Japanese print artist

Kumi Sugai

菅井汲

1919–1996

Tetsuro Komai, Japanese print artist

Tetsuro Komai

駒井哲郎

1920–1976

Toru Mabuchi, Japanese print artist

Toru Mabuchi

馬渕徹

1920–1994

Ansei Uchima, Japanese print artist

Ansei Uchima

内間安瑆

1921–2000

Kinoshita Tomio, Japanese print artist

Kinoshita Tomio

木下富雄

1923–2014

Maki Haku, Japanese print artist

Maki Haku

巻白

1924–2000

Chizuko Yoshida, Japanese print artist

Chizuko Yoshida

吉田千鶴子

1924–2017

H

Hodaka Yoshida

吉田穂高

1926–1995

Fukita Fumiaki, Japanese print artist

Fukita Fumiaki

吹田文明

1926

Reika Iwami, Japanese print artist

Reika Iwami

岩見禮花

1927–2020

Tadashi Nakayama, Japanese print artist

Tadashi Nakayama

中山正

1927–2014

Clifton Karhu, Japanese print artist

Clifton Karhu

1927–2007

Kawada Kan, Japanese print artist

Kawada Kan

川田幹

1927–1999

Ay-O, Japanese print artist

Ay-O

靉嘔

1931

Saito Kaoru, Japanese print artist

Saito Kaoru

斎藤薫

1931–2021

Tanaka Ryohei, Japanese print artist

Tanaka Ryohei

田中良平

1933–2019

Naoko Matsubara, Japanese print artist

Naoko Matsubara

松原直子

1937

Akira Kurosaki, Japanese print artist

Akira Kurosaki

黒崎彰

1937–2019

N

Nakabayashi Tadayoshi

中林忠良

1937

Tetsuya Noda, Japanese print artist

Tetsuya Noda

野田哲也

1940

Katsunori Hamanishi, Japanese print artist

Katsunori Hamanishi

浜西勝則

1949

Notable Works

(Bunmei Kaika Orai) by Sumio Kawakami

(Bunmei Kaika Orai)

Woodblock print

(Road) by Tadashige Ono

(Road)

Woodblock print

... (cover) by Hideo Hagiwara

... (cover)

Woodblock print

.......No.3 by Yoshida Masaji

.......No.3

Woodblock print

'Night Falls, a Dog Howls Deep in the Mountains, the God of the Hunt Appears', from Ryuri Hanga Saku by Shiko Munakata

'Night Falls, a Dog Howls Deep in the Mountains, the God of the Hunt Appears', from Ryuri Hanga Saku

1959

Woodblock print

“Flamingo” by Alexander Calder, from the series "Viva Chicago" by Katsunori Hamanishi

“Flamingo” by Alexander Calder, from the series "Viva Chicago"

1997

Mezzotint

“Miro's Chicago” by Joan Miró, from the series "Viva Chicago" by Katsunori Hamanishi

“Miro's Chicago” by Joan Miró, from the series "Viva Chicago"

1997

Mezzotint

“Monument with Standing Beast” by Jean Dubuffet, from the series "Viva Chicago" by Katsunori Hamanishi

“Monument with Standing Beast” by Jean Dubuffet, from the series "Viva Chicago"

1997

Mezzotint

Key Techniques

Moku-hangaNishiki-eBokashi

Key Publishers

UnsodoWatanabe ShozaburoYoshida Studio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sōsaku-hanga?

The "creative prints" movement (c. 1905–present) emphasized the artist as sole creator — designing, carving, and printing their own works. This broke from the traditional division of labor in ukiyo-e and was influenced by Western notions of individual artistic expression.

When was the Sōsaku-hanga period?

The Sōsaku-hanga movement was active from approximately 1905 to 1980.

Who are the most famous Sōsaku-hanga artists?

Notable Sōsaku-hanga artists include Doshun Mori, Hiromitsu Nakazawa, Kosaka Gajin, Oda Kazuma, Ishii Hakutei, and 73 more.

What are Sōsaku-hanga prints known for?

The "creative prints" movement (c. 1905–present) emphasized the artist as sole creator — designing, carving, and printing their own works. This broke from the traditional division of labor in ukiyo-e and was influenced by Western notions of individual artistic expression.

Related Movements

Meiji/Taishō Prints(c. 1868–1926)Shin-hanga(c. 1915–1960)Contemporary Mokuhanga(c. 1970–present)Ukiyo-e

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