Kazuyuki Ohtsu: The Seasons Boxed Notecard Assortment

The sweet curvature of branch and blossom balances the strong lift of mountain and bamboo in the landscapes of Kazuyuki Ohtsu. His woodblock prints are poetic contemplations, drawing us into tranquil scenes of the Japanese countryside. The colors he uses are elemental, deep, and true—expressive without drama. Ohtsu belongs to a generation that renounced the division of labor found in most print studios, preferring instead to master each step in the demanding process. After a long apprenticeship to the renowned master woodblock artist Kiyoshi Saito, Ohtsu struck out on his own, painting his original sketches, carving the woodblocks, and making the prints. Four of his harmonious artworks reflecting the changing seasons are reproduced in this notecard assortment. Contains five each of the following images: Tsuruga Castle and Cherry Blossoms, 2010 Summer at Ōze, 2000 Ginkgo Tree in Autumn, 2020 Remaining Persimmons, 2016

Kazuyuki Ohtsu

In the perfectly balanced compositions by Kazuyuki Ohtsu (Japanese, b. 1935) we find tranquil scenes of natural beauty, where fallen snow quiets the land and autumn leaves erupt in a riot of color. Born into a family of silk weavers, Ohtsu began the study of printmaking at 19. He apprenticed with celebrated artist Kiyoshi Saito for 40 years. With the passing of Saito, Ohtsu set out on his own career. Like his teacher, he paints the original pictures that serve as blueprints for the hand-carved blocks, then inks the blocks and prints the images. Ohtsu’s artworks forsake an earlier period’s use of strong outlines, instead relying on elemental colors and gentle shapes to depict a harmonious, idealized view of the Japanese countryside.