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Bakufu Ohno (1888-1976) was primarily a painter who, unlike most members of the Shin Hanga movement, utilized skilled carvers and woodblock print makers to create his prints. His early lack of prominence in Europe & America may be attributed to the fact that his Kyoto publisher did not pursue active export to the West, as did the Wantanabe publishing house of Shin Hanga in Tokyo.
His masterpiece was Familiar Fishes of Nippon and we are pleased to present a few images, each in excellent condition, and with the brilliant colouring and mica typical of this work.
Remarkably, Ohno actually spent about 7 years from 1937-1945 diving in a primitive submarine to a depth of 30 feet off the coast of Wakaura, Japan to sketch fish in their natural habitat. Assisted by an oceanographer, their sub was equipped with a special light beam that attracted many species of fish. The resultant superb issue of 68 woodblock fish prints is now a great rarity, and highly prized by ichthyologists and print collectors alike.
We have included the complete selection of prints from the charming Collection of Japanese Flowers and Birds as well as an oban size landscape print of Kyoto. Hopefully, there will be more of these wonderful prints in our future.
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