Haku Maki - Collection - 875

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Haku Maki’s 1987 embossed woodblock print Collection-875 depicts a sleek black tokkuri highlighted by a stunning golden crack motif, set in textured relief against a white background. With hand-embossed details, lacquer accents, and shimmering gold metallic ink, it beautifully conveys the flask’s glossy form and tactility; the motif’s elegant, branching flow, transforming this traditional sake vessel into a captivating sculptural piece on paper. 🍶✨

• Year & Edition: 1987 · Collection-875 · Ed. 190/250, (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
• Series: Collection (1977 - late 1980s) - an elaborately coloured, embossed and textured suite celebrating Japanese chawan, tokkuri and gui vessels. Maki’s prints from this period showcase his sharpest mastery of texture and colour, reflecting the tactile elegance of these cultural icons.
• Medium: Embossed Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Paper H: 20.75 cm × W: 20.75 cm.
• Condition: Lovely condition - paper clean, crisp, and intact.
• Notes: A smaller but incredibly powerful print from the later phase of Maki’s Collection series, highlighting a motif inspired by "kin" (gold), evoking the art of kintsugi with its golden repair-like line, showcasing his refined use of gold metallic ink and embossing. His ceramic and pottery prints came in two phases: 1977 - 1980 as Collection (alphabetically titled) and 1983 - late 1980s with sub-series such as Tokkuri & Gui, resuming his numbered catalogue format after a health-related hiatus. This tokkuri embodies the series’ peak of tactile refinement. 👁️✨

About the Artist

Haku Maki (1924-2000) was an influential Japanese printmaker known for merging traditional kanji and ancient Chinese seal scripts with abstract, modern compositions. A self-taught artist and wartime survivor, Maki gained international acclaim through innovative cement-relief embossing techniques and vibrant colours. His distinctive works - including series like Poem, Persimmons, and Festive Wine - are celebrated globally, combining deep cultural resonance with contemporary abstract aesthetics. [ ← View All Works by Haku Maki]