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ONCHI KOSHIRO (1891-1955) Bijin Shiki (Beauty in Each Season) The complete set of Bijiin shiki (Beauty in Each Season), each titled Le Printemps (Spring), L’Eté (Summer), L’Automne (Autumn) and L’Hiver (Winter), woodblock prints, 1927, unsigned, accompanied by original covers with embossed titles as above, signature Onchi Ko and date 1927, and by frontispiece with printed series title, signature and date 11 ? x 9. 1/8 in. (28.5 x 23.1cm.)
F. Kawasaki Collection
Onchi was trained in traditional calligraphy which he received from his father and also in western art. After failing to enter Daiichi koto gakko (First High School), he studied oil painting at Aoibashi branch school of Hokubakai. Encouraged by Takehisa Yumeji in 1909, he entered Tokyo School of Fine Arts, studying first oil painting and then sculpture. In 1913, he began to plan the print and poetry magazine Tsukubae with his fellow students Tanaka Kyohei and Fujimori Shizuo.
In 1916, he joined the poets Muroo Saisei and Hagiwara Sakutaro in starting the poetry magazine Kanjo in which he contributed cover designs, poems and prints. In 1917, he published his first prints collection, Happiness (Kofuku). He participated in the first Nihon Sosaku-Hanga Kyokai exhibition and, in 1921, began publication of the general art magazine Naizai with Otsuki Kenji and Fujimori Shizuo. He was a founding member of Nihon Hanga Kyokai and also exhibited prints in Teiten and Kokugakai. By 1927, Onchi had established a reputation as a book designer.
Onchi’s contribution as a traditionalist and innovator can be well seen in his single prints. He was one of the founders of the sosaku hanga movement. Unlike traditional woodblock print makers, these artists were inspired by painting and did every stage of production themselves, then circulating the finished works to a small selected circle. His prints were produced in very small editions, demonstrating his skill to unique prints.