Fumio Kitaoka - 伊予のみかん山 (Iyo's Mikan Mountains)

Name: Fumio Kitaoka - 伊予のみかん山 (Iyo's Mikan Mountains)
Brand: Kumo Arts
Price: 380.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£380.00

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Fumio Kitaoka’s 1981 woodblock unveils a patchwork of green hills on the former Iyo (伊予) plains, where neat rows of みかん (mikan) orchards climb toward misty mountain peaks. 🍊🌄

Year & Edition: 1981 · Ed. of 130 (75/130) (signed, titled & dated in pencil).
Medium: Woodblock.
Dimensions: Sheet W: 63.25 cm × H: 48.25 cm; Image W: 55.00 cm × H: 39.50 cm.
Condition: Excellent; vibrant, unblemished colours; paper clean & intact. “Fumio Kitaoka” embossed watermark to the margin.
Notes: Ehime prefecture—once called Iyo (伊予) - is renowned as Japan’s leading citrus region, its Nanyo hillsides blanketed by orchards of tangerines, satsumas and blood oranges. Here, Kitaoka captures the geometric rows of mikan groves, including the famous 伊予柑 (Iyokan) - originally marketed as “Iyo Mikan” - known for their large, juicy segments and sweet flavor. The print celebrates Ehime’s enduring legacy as the top producer of 柑橘系 (kankitsukei) fruits in Japan.

About the Artist

Fumio Kitaoka (1918-2007) was a leading figure in Japan’s sōsaku-hanga movement and a student of both Unichi Hiratsuka and Koshiro Onchi. Known for his quietly powerful landscapes, Kitaoka explored seasonal change, shifting light, and the passage of time. He exhibited and taught internationally from the 1950s onward, and his work is held in major collections including MoMA, Harvard Art Museums, and the Yokohama Museum of Art. [ ← View All Works by Fumio Kitaoka]