Fumio Kitaoka (Japanese, 1918-2007)


Hawaiian Flowers


Original woodblock print


Signed, titled and numbered 41/50


Image size: 8 1/2 x 20 1/2 inches, image size


Very good condition; mild toning; please see photos


Framed as shown


Note: ***glass removed for safe transport***


About: Fumio Kitaoka was born in 1918 in Tokyo and passed away in 2007. He pursued his education in printmaking and oil painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he studied under the guidance of notable teachers such as Hiratsuka Unichi. During his formative years in art, Kitaoka explored a diverse array of styles, encompassing traditional Japanese printmaking and Western painting techniques.


In 1955, Kitaoka journeyed to Paris to delve deeper into the art of wood engraving at the esteemed Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts Francaise (French National School of Fine Arts), remaining there until 1956.


A decade later, Kitaoka embarked on a significant phase in his career, venturing to the United States. He took on teaching roles in printmaking at the Minneapolis Museum School of Art from 1964 to 1965 and later at the Pratt Graphic Arts Center in New York.


Fumio Kitaoka's artistic prowess garnered international recognition, with his works exhibited at prestigious biennials across Asia, America, and Europe. His woodcuts have secured places in esteemed museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Art Institute of Chicago.