Tsuchiya RAKUSAN
1896–1976, Japan
Tsuchiya Rakusan Biography:
Tsuchiya Rakusan was born on April 25th 1896 in Hyogo Prefecture. When he was still a child his family moved to Kyoto, where he soon showed his talents. In spite of the fact that he had no influential people backing him he was accepted as a student in the studio of Takeuchi Seihô (1864-1942), the most famous Kyoto painter of the time, in 1913. In 1920 he left an accomplished artist. Around 1925 he started preparations for his most famous series of woodblock prints, Rakusan Kachô Gafu (楽山花鳥畫譜) Rakusan Flower and Bird Print Series, which was made in his own studio between 1929 and 1933. This series of 100 large woodblock prints was based on paintings Rakusan had made between 1925 and 1929, and was intended to be printed in editions of 200 prints for each design. However, quite a few designs were so popular that also a second edition and a third edition can be distinguished. The second edition was printed until the studio closed in 1941, the third edition was printed between 1948 and 1955, when the studio closed down permanently.
Much more can be found on the very informative website www.rakusan.net, started and maintained by Dr Michael J P Nichols. Among other things, the complete series of Rakusan Kachô Gafu (楽山花鳥畫譜) Rakusan Flower and Bird Print Series can be seen there.