Rakusan Tsuchiya (1896-1976)

Rakusan Tsuchiya, born Kouzou Tsuchiya in 1896 in Kyoto, was a distinguished Japanese artist renowned for his detailed nature studies. While studying under Seiho Takeuchi, a celebrated Kyoto artist, Hakusan developed his painting skills and adopted several artist names, including Rakuzan Koushisei and Rakusan, with his birth name being primarily used in his publishing endeavours. He also served as a professor at the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting.

His most acclaimed work, the "Rakusan's Birds and Flowers" series, consists of 100 intricately coloured woodblock prints, self-published in a limited edition of 200 between 1929 and 1933. These prints, celebrated for their precision and vivid colours, were extensively promoted and sold by Walter Foster from 1945 to 1960. Hakusan's contribution to the woodblock printing tradition and his role in education at the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting left a profound impact, securing his place in the annals of traditional Japanese art until his death in 1976.

Signature of the artist Rakusan Tsuchiya