Mori, Yoshitoshi, 1898-1993

Born in Tokyo. From age 15 studied painting and illustration with Yamakawa Shuho and design for yuzen dyeing with Yamakawa Saiho, father of Yamakawa Shuho. Graduated in 1923 from Japanese-style painting division of Kawabata Painting School. Influenced by Yanagi Soetsu, Serizawa Keisuke, and the folk art movement from 1942. Worked for 30 years as a designer and dyer of kimono fabrics. In 1955 turned to hanga, working usually with stencils but occasionally with woodblocks. Member of Kokugakai from 1949, Banga-in from 1955, and Nihon Hanga Kyokai from 1982. Represented in numerous international competitions including Ljubljana, Barcelona, and Tokyo biennales. Subjects are often workers at traditional tasks, festivals, exotic imagery of Buddhism, or folk art. Style is bold in mingei taste.** Taken in whole, or in part, with permission from: Merritt, Helen and Nanako Yamada. Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975. University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu. 1992.