Artist’s Proof (A.P.) Bokashi woodblock print, signed, titled and dated in pencil

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Shufu Miyamoto (Japanese, b. 1950) – Water Weeds at Hiroshima, 1984

Artist’s Proof (A.P.) Bokashi Woodblock Print, Signed, Titled and Dated in Pencil

An exceptionally atmospheric and highly collectible Japanese woodblock print by renowned contemporary printmaker Shufu Miyamoto, titled Water Weeds at Hiroshima (1984). The composition depicts a traditional Japanese farmhouse nestled beside tranquil waters filled with aquatic vegetation, its reflection mirrored in the still surface beneath a veil of soft morning mist. Executed with remarkable subtlety and technical precision, the print perfectly captures the poetic serenity and seasonal beauty for which Miyamoto is internationally celebrated.  

This example is an Artist’s Proof (A.P.), a designation reserved for impressions printed outside the numbered edition and retained by the artist for personal reference, exhibition, or archival purposes. Artist’s Proofs are generally produced in very small numbers and are often considered more desirable by collectors due to their rarity and direct association with the artist.

The work is signed, titled, and dated in pencil in the lower margin and bears the artist’s distinctive red seal (hanko) in the lower left corner. Presented in a tasteful frame, it remains a striking example of late twentieth-century Japanese printmaking.

Bokashi: The Art of Japanese Colour Gradation

A defining feature of this print is Miyamoto’s masterful use of bokashi, one of the most revered techniques in traditional Japanese woodblock printing. Bokashi involves the careful hand-application of pigment to the printing block to create seamless gradations of tone and colour. Rather than producing flat areas of colour, the technique allows for subtle transitions from light to dark, creating atmospheric effects such as mist, reflections, dawn light, and distant landscapes.

The process requires exceptional skill, as the printer must reapply and blend pigments by hand for every impression. Miyamoto employs extensive bokashi throughout his landscapes, creating the dreamlike, ethereal mood that has become his artistic signature. This technique places him firmly within a lineage of celebrated Japanese printmakers who utilized bokashi to evoke nature’s fleeting beauty.  

About the Artist

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1950, Shufu Miyamoto initially studied oil painting under artist Osamu Ioka before turning to printmaking. After experimenting with lithography and silkscreen, he found his true artistic voice in traditional woodblock printing. Miyamoto is widely recognized as one of the leading contemporary Japanese landscape printmakers, known for his romantic, mist-filled rural scenes and sophisticated use of colour gradation. His works are held in important public and private collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Auckland Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.  

Japanese Woodblock Printing Tradition

Japanese woodblock printing, or mokuhanga, is a centuries-old art form in which an image is carved into multiple wooden blocks, each corresponding to a different colour. Handmade Japanese washi paper is then carefully printed by hand, layer by layer, resulting in extraordinary richness and depth. Unlike modern mechanical printing, every impression requires the skilled collaboration of artist, carver, and printer—or, as in Miyamoto’s case, often the artist himself. The resulting works possess a tactile quality and luminosity that distinguish them from other printmaking traditions.  

Dimensions

• Framed: H 75.5 × W 57.5 × D 3 cm
• Framed: H 29.72 × W 22.64 × D 1.18 in

Condition

Excellent vintage condition with strong colour, fresh impression, and professionally framed presentation. Signed, titled, dated, and stamped by the artist.

A superb example of Shufu Miyamoto’s highly sought-after atmospheric landscapes, combining traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a timeless sense of tranquillity and place.

Comes with it's Japanese frame.

The print will be shipped insured. Cost of transport to the US, Euro 275.

Wear consistent with age and use.

Colors may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or your monitor settings. 

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Import of Art into the US should be exempt from all U.S. import tariffs but please check.