“DANCING KAPPA SPIRIT” ORIGINAL LIFETIME WOODBLOCK PRINT BY THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN ARTIST IKU NAGAI (b.1930)

This wonderful mid-century Japanese woodblock print, of a Kappa (mythological spirit) dancing, is by the artist Iku Nagai. It bears the artist’s red seal within the block lower left. The left margin of this print bears the Japanese characters stamped cartouche: Kyoto Printmaking Institute, Shinagawa Edition. A lifetime first edition print, published circa 1950s.

The format of the print is Oban tate-e. The image size measures 14 3/8 x 9 1/2 inches, The full sheet, with deckle edge on the top and left sides, measures 15 3/8 x 10 5/8 inches. The print comes unframed.