HIRATSUKA Unichi steadfastly upheld the principle of drawing, carving, and printing by one’s own hand—and in doing so laid the foundations of modern Japanese printmaking.
The essence of Hiratsuka’s art lies above all in the powerful, unwavering contrast of black and white. Although he also produced color prints, in his later years he turned increasingly inward to monochrome expression, declaring that “the life of printmaking resides in black and white alone.” His carving tools were not merely instruments for cutting wood, but brushes that inscribed a drama of light and shadow. In particular, in works depicting ancient temples, stone walls, and rugged landscapes, he employed a distinctive technique known as the “Hiratsuka-tsuki,” in which the chisel is repeatedly driven into the block. Through this method, he rendered the chill of stone and the weight of history with a profound, tactile density.
Hiratsuka was not only a masterful artist but also an exceptional educator. He mentored many younger printmakers, including AZECHI Umetaro, leaving an enduring legacy through his students.
His gaze was always directed toward a beauty rooted in the Japanese land itself. Unlike the popular brilliance associated with ukiyo-e, his works are imbued with a quiet, ascetic aesthetic. Yet within their deep blacks reside infinite gradations of color and a profound sense of reverence for his subjects. Using the blade of the carving tool, Hiratsuka Unichi continued to carve the “spirit of Japan” onto paper, standing as a rigorous yet gentle giant in the world of woodblock printmaking.
The essence of Hiratsuka’s art lies above all in the powerful, unwavering contrast of black and white. Although he also produced color prints, in his later years he turned increasingly inward to monochrome expression, declaring that “the life of printmaking resides in black and white alone.” His carving tools were not merely instruments for cutting wood, but brushes that inscribed a drama of light and shadow. In particular, in works depicting ancient temples, stone walls, and rugged landscapes, he employed a distinctive technique known as the “Hiratsuka-tsuki,” in which the chisel is repeatedly driven into the block. Through this method, he rendered the chill of stone and the weight of history with a profound, tactile density.
Hiratsuka was not only a masterful artist but also an exceptional educator. He mentored many younger printmakers, including AZECHI Umetaro, leaving an enduring legacy through his students.
His gaze was always directed toward a beauty rooted in the Japanese land itself. Unlike the popular brilliance associated with ukiyo-e, his works are imbued with a quiet, ascetic aesthetic. Yet within their deep blacks reside infinite gradations of color and a profound sense of reverence for his subjects. Using the blade of the carving tool, Hiratsuka Unichi continued to carve the “spirit of Japan” onto paper, standing as a rigorous yet gentle giant in the world of woodblock printmaking.
