Iwami Reiko (Japanese, 1927-2020), Two Woodblock Prints

Includes two woodblock prints, ink with metallic gold and silver, embossing to surface, the largest is pencil signed in lower margin 37/70, title in Japanese, Reika Iwami, 73, framed in Japan by Kato (Framed dimensions 24 1/2 x 16 x 3/4 in., Sight size 19 1/4 x 11 in.)(Very good condition; overall even toning; not examined outside of the frame), and the smaller is pencil signed in lower margin 59/100, title in Japanese, Reika Iwami, 78, framed in Japan by Kanda (Framed dimensions 11 1/4 x 8 1/2 x 3/4 in., Sight size 7 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.)(Very good condition; overall even toning; not examined outside of the frame).


From the Collection of David and Vidabeth Bensen, collected during the 1960s and 1980s while living in Japan

Iwami Reiko was a leading figure in Japan’s sosaku‑hanga (creative print) movement, renowned for her abstract woodblock prints that explore water, nature, and the interplay of light and texture. Trained under the influence of Onchi Koshiro, she developed a distinctive style characterized by subtle palettes, embossed surfaces, and the natural grain of wood. A pioneering woman in Japanese printmaking, she co‑founded the Women’s Print Association (Joryu Hanga Kyokai) and exhibited internationally. Her works are held in major collections worldwide, celebrated for their quiet elegance and meditative quality.