Yamaguchi, Susumu, 1897-1983

Born in Nagano prefecture. Moved to Tokyo in 1920 and studied with Kuroda Seiki and at Aoibashi Western Painting Institute while working as a school watchman. Later became school counselor and high school art teacher. Exhibited with Nihon Sosaku-Hanga Kyokai from 1920; member from 1928. Founding member of Nihon Hanga Kyokai. Exhibited with Shun’yokai and in Teiten. Contributed to Shi to hanga, HANGA, Kasuri, Shin hanga, Han geijutsu, and Kitsutsuki. Printed with oil-base inks in 1920s; later shifted to water-base paints. Experimented with many techniques including scratching wood to expose the grain and printing with excessive water. In 1945 forced by fires following the bombing of Tokyo to return to Nagano prefecture; remained after the war farming a small piece of land while continuing to make and exhibit prints. Specialized in dramatic mountain landscapes achieved through repeated printing on very moist paper. Sometimes used 3 mountain peaks in a seal to represent first kanji of his family name, literally “mountain.”** 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.