Joichi Hoshi (Japanese, 1913-1979), Two Woodblock Prints

Includes two woodblock prints, the first, warm golden tree, red artist's seal in lower right corner of image, pencil signed in lower margin with title in Japanese, J. Hoshi '77, presented framed under glass with mat in gilt wood frame (Frame dimensions 14 1/2 x 13 x 1 in., Sight size 7 1/4 x 7 1/2 in.)( very good condition; not examined outside of the frame), the second with a large cream and turquoise blue tree against a metallic silver ground, red artist's seal in lower right corner of image, pencil signed in lower margin with title in Japanese, edition 9/200, Joichi Hoshi '73, presented loose (15 x 19 3/4 in.)(good condition; toning to image where previously framed; mounting tape to back of upper edge).


In the late 1940s, Joichi Hoshi taught himself woodblock printmaking, quickly ascending to international acclaim and earning his degree from Musashino University of Fine Arts in 1956. By the 1970s, he achieved mastery with his signature "magical realist" tree motifs- incandescent, meticulous depictions characterized by vibrant monochromatic backgrounds and the masterful application of gold and silver leaf. Known globally as the "father of tree prints," Hoshi’s serene dreamscapes revolutionized the Sosaku Hanga tradition and continue to influence contemporary printmakers.

Hoshi’s work is highly coveted by collectors and held in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, and the Art Institute of Chicago. His legacy is further cemented by his inclusion in the Rockefeller Foundation and major museums in Berlin and Israel.