Clifton Karhu - Ichiriki Noren

Name: Clifton Karhu - Ichiriki Noren
Brand: Kumo Arts
Price: 800.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

£800.00

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Clifton Karhu’s 1982 woodblock captures the iconic noren curtain of Kyoto’s exclusive Ichiriki Ochaya in Gion, deep evening hues offset by the noren’s bold circular Zen form. 🍵🔴

Year & Edition: Artist Proof 2 (AP2) (titled, editioned & signed in pencil to plate).
Medium: Woodblock.
Dimensions: Image W: 40.50 cm × H: 40.50 cm; Sheet W: 47.50 cm × H: 47.00 cm.
Condition: Very good; rich, unblemished tones; minimal foxing pinholes to sky; slight paper browning & prior mounting residue verso.
Notes: Ichiriki Ochaya (一力茶屋) is Kyoto’s most prestigious, invitation-only teahouse, where red-walled façades, lattice windows, noren curtains and angled bamboo skirts (犬矢来, inu-yarai) shield geisha and guests from prying eyes and ears. Uniquely, Karhu depicts the noren bearing an ensō (円相) - the Zen circle - rather than the usual “一力” character, adding meditative depth to this masterful portrayal of Gion’s hidden elegance.

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]