Shodo Kawarazaki, Irises

Shodo Kawarazaki

Kawarazaki Shodo is best known for designing woodblock prints of flowers and other plant life. Born in Kyoto, Shodo studied the art of yuzen dyeing, a traditional art craft in Kyoto, under the guidance of Yamamoto Sekkei. He also studied Japanese painting under Shibahara, though it was his teacher Kishyo who helped cultivate Shodo's original style of expression. Shodo is undoubtedly known for his botanical prints, which he produced post-war Japan in the 1950’s. These botanical prints were all published by Unsodo, where Shodo was working as CEO. These botanical prints put Shodo on the map as an artist on a global scale and continue to be reprinted today. All prints carry the artist's seal within the image area, the title in upper left margin, publisher, printer and carver seals in lower left margin. Each print has been carefully printed in 15 to 20 steps.