Gihachiro Okuyama - 白馬細野スキー場 (Hakuba Hosono Ski Slopes)

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Gihachiro Okuyama’s Woodblock “白馬細野スキー場 (‘Hakuba Hosono Ski Slopes’)” depicts a lively winter scene with skiers of all levels weaving down gentle, tree-lined slopes. Tall cedars cast long shadows across the snow, while figures glide, carve, and pause on the hillside beneath distant, rolling mountains. Okuyama’s crisp black outlines and soft grey gradients capture the brisk energy of a day on Nagano’s historic ski fields, celebrating both the communal joy of the sport and the region’s alpine beauty. ⛷️❄️

• Year & Edition: Circa 1960-70s. Self-printed by 奥山儀八郎自摺 (Okuyama Gihachiro jizuri); pencil-signed and titled in margins.
• Medium: Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 31.75 cm × W: 48.25 cm.
• Condition: A charming piece; clean image; handling to paper along margin edge.
• Notes: Hakuba Hosono Ski Slopes in Nagano Prefecture were among Japan’s earliest recreational ski areas, drawing local and international enthusiasts since the late 1950s. Okuyama’s print immortalises the community spirit and crisp winter air that define Hakuba’s storied mountain culture.

About the Artist

Gihachiro Okuyama (1907-1981) moved seamlessly between sōsaku-hanga and shin-hanga, pairing self-carved monochrome impressions with vibrant collaborative colour prints. Trained by Kosaka Gajin and ukiyo-e master Ishii Kendō, he fused bold modern graphics with classical technique. After the war he founded the Japan Print Institute and his Matsudo studio; his own prints - and woodblock homages to Hiroshige and Van Gogh - now appear in major museum collections worldwide. [ ← View All Works by Gihachiro Okuyama]