Fumio Kitaoka - 瀬戸の渦潮 (Whirlpools in the Seto Inland Sea)

Name: Fumio Kitaoka - 瀬戸の渦潮 (Whirlpools in the Seto Inland Sea)
Brand: Kumo Arts
Price: 280.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£280.00

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Fumio Kitaoka’s 1980 woodblock print “瀬戸の渦潮 (Whirlpools in the Seto Inland Sea)” offers a mesmerizing aerial view of the Naruto Whirlpools spinning in vibrant blues, framed by Awaji’s craggy shores and the Magosaki Lighthouse. A spectacular celebration of Japan’s tidal marvels. 🌊🌪️🌉

Year & Edition: 1980 · Artist Proof (signed, titled & dated in pencil).
Medium: Woodblock.
Dimensions: Sheet W: 63.25 cm × H: 48.25 cm; Image W: 54.75 cm × H: 40.00 cm.
Condition: Lovely overall; pristine image free of marks; light foxing to margins and verso; faint mat line and gentle browning to paper.
Notes: Depicts 鳴門の渦潮 (Naruto Whirlpools) in the 鳴門海峡 (Naruto Strait), where the 瀬戸内海 (Seto Inland Sea) meets the 紀伊水道 (Kii Channel), forming vortices up to 20 m in diameter. From an 淡路島 (Awaji Island) viewpoint, the Magosaki Lighthouse (孫崎灯台) and the shadow of the 大鳴門橋 (Onaruto Bridge) loom over the churning waters, while a vessel glides through the tides.

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]