Mokuchu Urushibara (1888-1953)

Urushibara Mokuchu, born Yoshijirō Urushibara in Tokyo in 1888, was a masterful Japanese printmaker renowned for his evocative black-and-white prints, especially of horses. In 1908, he moved to London and showcased his woodblock printing skills at the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition of 1910. Urushibara continued to live in London after the exhibition, working at the British Museum where he restored prints, made reproductions, and in 1912, was tasked with creating precise copies of the Admonitions Scroll by the ancient Chinese painter Gu Kaizhi. His talents in the traditional Japanese mokuhan (woodblock printing) made him a pivotal figure among Japanese artists in London, collaborating notably with European artists such as Frank Brangwyn.

Urushibara's collaboration with Brangwyn led to the creation of several significant portfolios, including "Bruges" in 1919, featuring adaptations of Brangwyn's watercolours into large woodblock prints. The partnership flourished until 1940, contributing greatly to the revival of colour woodblock printing in England during the 1920s and 1930s. After returning to Japan in 1934, Urushibara continued to influence the art scene, exhibiting in the United States post-World War II. His work, including the donations he made to the British Museum, remains a testament to his cross-cultural artistic impact and his mastery of the woodblock printing art form. He passed away in 1953, leaving behind a legacy celebrated both in Japan and internationally.

Portrait of the artist Urushibara Mokuchu

Seal and signature of the artist Urushibara Mokuchu