Clifton Karhu - Gion Matsuri Carts

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Clifton Karhu’s 1978 woodblock depicts Kyoto’s famed Gion Matsuri summer festival: lantern-lit yamaboko floats parading beneath a full moon, surrounded by kimono-clad townspeople. His bold outlines and jewel-toned palette evoke both the pageantry and devotional roots of this historic purification rite. 🎋🛞

• Year & Edition: 1978 · Ed. of 100 (71/100) (titled, editioned & signed in pencil to plate).
• Medium: Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Sheet approx. H: 45.25 cm × W: 44.50 cm; Image H: 35.25 cm × W: 35.25 cm.
• Condition: Excellent; vibrant, unblemished colour; paper crisp & intact with only very minor browning to outer margins.
• Notes: The Gion Matsuri festival (祇園祭) dates to 869 CE as a healing ritual and now unfolds each July with a grand month-long yamaboko junko parade (山鉾巡行). Karhu’s interpretation marries traditional craftsmanship with his signature modern style, capturing the elegance of textiles, carvings and painted panels that adorn each float.

About the Artist

Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) was an American-born woodblock printmaker who spent most of his life in Kyoto. His bold lines and vivid colours captured the character of Kyoto’s machiya townhouses and quiet backstreets, earning him recognition both in Japan and internationally. His works are held in major museum collections around the world. Karhu’s legacy lives on through his family and The Tolman Collection, his long-time representatives. Today, his son Joel Karhu continues the tradition with a striking printmaking practice of his own. [ ← View All Works by Clifton Karhu]