Haku Maki - Persimmon 81-17 (柿)

Modern | Sōsaku Hanga Woodblock Print

Haku Maki’s 1981 embossed woodblock print Persimmon 81-17 (柿) presents a single persimmon (kaki 柿) on a delicate branch. The embossed fruit, leaves, and branch against a matte black background are finished in urushi lacquer - catching the light with gentle highlights, while the persimmon’s glossy surface provides a warm focal point. 🍂🍊✨

• Year & Edition: 1981 · Persimmon 81-17 (柿) · Ed. 50/110.
  
• Series: Persimmons: 1971-1981. A beloved autumn fruit; Maki takes the persimmon (kaki 柿), to produce elegant, pure, hand embossed compositions. Adorning elements with urushi lacquer and printing against starkly contrasting black - occasionally white - backgrounds, Maki’s Persimmon pieces elicit a particular premium feel to his pieces. With evidence to suggest Maki book-ended the theme with exclusive prints produced in 1971 & 1981 - to include further refined black, textured, leathery/velvety backgrounds - Maki’s Persimmon prints typically attract greater market values.
• Medium: Embossed Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Sheet W: 47.00 cm × H: 31.50 cm; Image W: 43.00 cm × H: 29.75 cm.
• Condition: Lovely; image face unblemished aside from faint surface marks under bright light, with minor matte burn at the margin edge and light tape residue on verso.
• Notes: A fabulous example of Haku Maki’s use of urushi lacquer in his Persimmon prints - bringing a shine to the embossed leaf elements. 👁️✨

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]