Koh Sekiguchi - 夏 坂道の家 (Summer: House On The Hill)

Koh Sekiguchi’s 1985 silkscreen shows a quiet summer evening in the Japanese countryside. Two children make their way uphill beneath gentle rain - one shielding the other with a yellow wagasa umbrella - as hydrangeas bloom along the path. A steep stone wall supports a striking thatched-roof home, rendered in crisp line and earthy colour. 🌧️🏡💠

• Year & Edition: 1985 · Ed. 112/250 (signed & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Silkscreen.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 49.75 cm × W: 49.75 cm; Image H: 35.50 cm × W: 36.00 cm.
  
• Condition: Superb; no marks or blemishes, image and paper clean and intact.
  
• Notes: A wonderful composition from Sekiguchi’s seasonal works, highlighting rural architecture, lush vegetation, and a sense of care between children. The soft rain and blooming hydrangeas (紫陽花) signal early summer, while the layered textures of stone, thatch, and greenery recall the lived landscapes of satoyama villages.

About the Artist

Koh Sekiguchi (1937-2018) was a key figure in the postwar revival of kirie (切り絵), the traditional Japanese art of paper-cutting. A co-founder of the Japan Kirie Association, he focused on themes of childhood, rural life, and maternal warmth, creating quietly expressive works with lasting emotional resonance. In 2010, the 関口コオきり絵美術館 museum opened in Takasaki City to preserve and present Sekiguchi's work. [ ← View All Works by Koh Sekiguchi]