Gallery 9H: Postcard Prints by Kawanishii Hide — The Christenson Collection of Miniature Japanese Woodblock Prints

Gallery 9H: Postcard prints by Kawanishi Hide

Kawanishi Hide (1894-1965) lived in the port city of Kobe. He was a self-taught artist within the sôsaku hanga movement who created a large number of small and medium format prints. Kawanishi was heavily influenced by art deco posters with their emphasis on solid blocks of color. Although he generally carved his own blocks, it is likely that some designs were also carved by artisans. Several of his woodblock printed postcard sets were later reproduced by machine.

*Bluff area of central* *Kobe*. Published by Tourist Section Kobe Central Office. Carved by the artist. Undated. 14.1 x 9.1 cm

*Nunobiki waterfall*. Published by Tourist Section Kobe City Office.. Carved by the artist. Undated. 9.1 x 14.1 cm

*Port of Kobe*. Published by the Tourist Section Kobe City Office. Carved by the artist. Undated (after 1945). 14.1 x 9.1 cm

*Zoo at Takurazuka Family Land.* Undated (after 1945). 14.1 x 8.9 cm

*Ohkyo Temple* *in Kasumi*. 1950s. 13.2 x 9.0 cm

*Takarazuka Theater*. Undated (after 1945). 14.1 x 9.0 cm

*The* *Fighting Dog, Kōchi* 1950-1960s. 14.5 x 10.1 cm

*Onagadori.* *Long tailed cock, Kochi.* 1950s -1960s. 14.7 x 10.2 cm

*The Sword Dance*. 1950s-1960s. 14.6 x 10.3 cm

*Katsura Seashore, Kochi.* 14.8 x 10.2 cm

*Amagasaki.* Postcard Envelope. 11.9 x 17.6 cm

The folder for this set of postcards has a postcard back printed inside such that it which would allow the purchaser to cut out an additional image to be mailed.

*Amagasaki.* Additional postcard as it would appear if cut from postcard envelope. 14.4 x 10.4 cm

*Hanshin National Highway*. 14.3 x 10.4 cm

A set of 5 woodblock printed postcards that depict tourist attractions around Kinosaki (Shirozaki) in Hyogo prefecture. A 7-yen stamp is pasted on the woodblock printed wrapper. This set dates to 1968 (Showa 43), three years after the artist’s death. It was published by Kinosaki Minatoya.