Condition. The stecil print is in Very Good condition. Minor foxing but no significant faults.

 
Serizawa Keisuke:

This black, red and white stencil art depicts historical/cultural properties in the Shuri area of Okinawa. It measures 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch. It is stenciled in black, red and black on thick high quality paper stock.

This is stencil art is also found in Serizawa's book published in 1948 titled Okinawa Fubutsu (see here). In the book it actually spans 2 panels and has black and white stencil art of people in native costume in the right and left margins. While this is the same image as in the book (minus the people in costume), it clearly is not removed from the book as it is not creased as is the case the the image in the book which spans 2 panels. The image is stenciled on the same paper type and size as in Okinawa Fubutsu and the colors are identical.
 

Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984)

In 1956 Serizawa was designated by the Government of Japan as a "Living National Treasure" (intangible cultural asset) for his "Mingei" (folk art) work using hand-stenciled dyeing (katazome) techniques. Serizawa visited Okinawa several times and learned the famed Ryukyu bingata method of stencil dyeing. His first visit was in 1938 where he studied bingata techniques under Katatsue-ya in Naha. He carried this traditional technique into his folk art work. Okinawan designs are frequently seen in his work. In addition, Serizawa merged Chinese floral dyeing methods and South Pacific batik methods into his work. Serizawa's works cover an wide field. His designs were reproduced for use as book cover illustrations, and newspaper and magazine illustrations. His folk art applications included kimono and obi cloth, paper prints, wall hangings/scrolls, folding screens, curtains, fans, shochibubai (pine, bamboo and plum blossoms hangings considered to bring good luck) and calendars. A unique feature of his work has been described in these terms:

The distinguishing trait of Serizawa's katazome method is the use of the starch mixture to create, not a colored area as is current in direct-dyeing process, but a blank, undyed one that forms a part of the pattern and that can later be colored by hand in multi-color or monochrome as the designer sees fit. Keisuke Serizawa, the Stencil Artist, Volume 1, 1967

It is my understanding that the stencil dyeing procedures are:

• Using a stencil, areas to be left uncolored are covered with a dye resistant starch paste (nori tsuke).
• Colors are then applied by dipping or brushing, generally from lighter to darker colors. Serizawa generally used traditional vegetable dyes and seldom used chemical dyes.
• After these colors have dried, the key design (key stencil) is used to apply the main design (iro sashi).
• The paste is washed off (mizu ari) and the material dried in the sun (harika).

A brochure describing the stencil-dyed paper process published by the Takumi Craft Show, Tokyo, is here.

An interesting aspect of this process is the use of every day items. For example, the dye resistant paste was generally made from boiled rice (combined with lime). The inks (generally vegetable dyes), particularly black were mixed with tofu water, a by-product in the making of curd from soy beans, to give richer color and indelibility.

Serizawa was a leading member of the Mingei (folk craft) movement founded in 1926 by Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai. The Serizawa Keisuke Art and Craft Museum at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai has a large and specialized collection of his work. The Mingei International Museum of Folk Art located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, has an important collection of works by Serizawa. Serizawa also donated several items to the museum which were not his own works but of important cultural significance.

Serizawa Calendars. For information on Serizawa calendar folios, click here.

Serizawa Books: In Keisuke Serizawa it is stated that:

Keisuke Serizawa has produced numerous masterpieces in illustrated books sometimes in Japanese and other times in contemporary western style, including Don Quixote, Vincent Van Gogh, A Day at Mashiko, Ainu Art and Butsuge (poems of Soetsu Yangi). Over three hundred limited editions reveal his vast knowledge of human psychology as well as of the natural world and are highly prized among collectors. 1979 Mingei Catalogue at page 9.

Despite the fact that numerous books were apparently produced, they are seldom seen. I am aware of the following books.

• 1936, Ehon Don Kihote (Don Quixote Picture Book) or Don Quixote a La Japonaise, Mukomachi (near Kyoto), Sunward Press, Bunsho Jagaku, proprietor, October 1936, large 8vo (8 1/4 x 11 1/4 in - 20.9 x 28.7 cm), text in Japanese only, high quality Japanese paper in folded sheets, kangxi Japanese style binding, illustrated covers, spine not covered except for 1 inch at the head and foot, 31 illustrations (28 double page illustrations and 3 single page), 34 folded pages for a total of 68 pages. For more information on this book, click here.

• 1948, Okinawa Fubutsu (Views of Okinawa). For more information on this book, click here. This book is available, see below.

• 1943, Ryukyu no Katatsuki (Ryukyuan Prints), Kyoto, Kyoto Shoin, 15 pages with printed cloth samples, 8 photographic illustrations, 11 illustrations of paper stencils, 13 drawings of the textile printing process 67 pages of text.

• 1950, Kami-wo Tsukuru Hitotachi (Papermaking), privately printed in edition of 50 copies, Showa 25 (1950) 28 x 30 cm, 7 pages of katazome prints, paper wirts with printed title label.

• 1954-1962, Keisuke Serizawa's Katazome Shohin Shu (K. Serizawa's Katazome Collection), 4 volumes (No. 1, 2, 3 & 4), published by Moriguchi Taro, Osaka, limited edition books (No. 1 - 100 copies, Nos. 2-4 - 200 copies). For more information on this set, click here. No. 1 and No. 2 are available, see below.

• 1961, Haruo Sato.

• 1967 & 1968, Keisuke Serizawa, The Stencil Artist, Volume 1 and Volume 2, Tokyo, Tsukiji Shokan Publishing Company, Ltd, distributed by Maruzen Co. Ltd, 1967 (Vol. 1) and 1968 (Vol 2), large 8vo (9 x 11 1/2 in - 22.8 x 29.2 cm), tan (Vol 1) and red (Vol 2) textured cloth with gilt decoration on covers and gilt decoration on covers and gilt lettering on spine, issued with cardboard slip cases but no dust jackets. The volumes read Japanese style from back to front except for the pages in English which read front to back. The volumes are unpaginated but the number of pages in both volumes is approximately 264 pages (118 pages in Vol 1 and 146 pages in Vol 2). There are a total of 352 images (22 color and 330 black and white). In this work "plates" are the same as images. The color plates are tipped in and were produced utilizing the color halftone process. The black and white plates are produced by the halftone process also. Many pages have more than one image ("plate") per page and some images span two pages. Each image is assigned a number and has a descriptive caption in Japanese. Several of the images are related to Okinawa. Both volumes have an attached ribbon marker. Each colophon has a small stencil illustration which probably was the work of Serizawa. For information on this set, click here. Volume 1 and 2 are available, see below.

Books with Serizawa Covers/Art Work:

• 1934, Lafcadio Hearn, Letters from Shimane and Kyushu, Kyoto, The Sunward Press, 1934, limited edition of 100 numbered copies privately printed for Dr. Sanki Ichikawa, laid paper, 8vo, 71 pp. Cover is a stenciled design by Keisuke Serizawa.

• 1952, Tindale, Thomas K. & Harriet R., Handmade Papers of Japan, Rutland, Tuttle, 4 volumes. Preface by Dard Hunter. Eight endpapers with stencil illustrations by Keisuke Serizawa.

• 1964, Haruo Sato, Bunka no Hangyaku (Revolt of Cultures), published in the Geise Shimbun.

Exhibition Catalogues:

• 1976, Serizawa, Paris, Grand Palis, 24 x 24 cm, soft cover, 122 pages. Exhibition of Serizawa art from November 23, 1976 - February 14, 1977.
   
  
• 1979, Keisuke Serizawa & Martha Longenecker, Keisuke Serizawa, La Jolla, CA, Mingei International Museum of Wold Folk Art, oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in - 24 x 21.5 cm), soft covers, frontispiece photograph of Keisuke Serizawa, numerous color and black and white photographic illustrations, 46 pp. Catalogue for an exhibition of Serizawa's art held at the Mingei Museum from June 23 to October 14, 1979. Includes an illustrated discussion of the artist's stencil art techniques. Also includes a detailed "Biographical Notes" section on Serizawa. The catalogue lists all exhibits and pictures several, many full page and in color. Items include images for the artist's illustrated books, kimonos, obis, screens and norens (curtains).
  Available - 1979 Mingei Museum Exhibit Catalogue- Purchase Here

• 2001, Serizawa, Master of Japanese Textile Design, Sendai, Japan, Tohoku Fukushi University, Serizawa Keisuke Art and Craft Museum, 2001, oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 10 in), illustrated stiff paper wraps, illustrated dust jacket, 190+ items pictured in color, Japanese and English text, 133 pp. A catalogue for an exhibition of Keisuke Serizawa's work held August 11 through November 4, 2001 in the National Museums of Scotland. The exhibition items are followed by a biography (chronological listing of key events in Serizawa's life), an essay on "The Art of Serizawa Keisuke" by Hamada Shukuko, an essay on the "Kataezome Technique" and a "List of Works" where each of the 191 numbered items pictured are discussed in more detail including the year produced. A comprehensive illustrated presentation of Serizawa's work spanning all formats including kimono, obi, noren, screens, calendars (1946 calendar shown), stenciled paper (The Great Market in Naha City, Okinawa is shown), wall hangings, scrolls, book type illustrated stories, magazine covers, book covers and cases and paintings on glass. Includes messages from Mark Jones, Sir Hugh Cortazzi, Lord Blackenham, His Excellency Hayashi Sadayui and Serizawa Chosuke. ISBN 4-901459-06-6

Note Regarding Calendar Folio Shipment to Outside the US. While these items are not that heavy they are bulky and the large size
makes them very expensive to ship. A typical calendar folio would cost approximately $75.00 to mail to an address outside the US (2022).

Serizawa Books
  1954 & 1955 -  Keisuke Serizawa's Katazome Shohin Shu, No 1. & No. 2 (K. Serizawa's Katazome Collection).  Available Here
  1954 - Keisuke Serizawa's Katazome Shohin Shu, No 1 (K. Serizawa's Katazome Collection).  Available Here
  1967 & 1968 -  Keisuke Serizawa, The Stencil Artist, Volume 1 and Volume 2.  Available Here


Serizawa Katazome Calendar Folios
  1952 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1955 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1956 Calendars (3)  - Available Here - Feb, Mar & Apr monthly calendars
  1957 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1958 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Type I - Folding Case - Fine/Fine
  1958 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Type I - Folding Case - Fine/Good
  1959 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Type II (Year not stated on January calendar) - Folding Case
  1962 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Sack
  1966 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case 
  1967 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1967 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case - Condition
  1968 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1969 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1971 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case - Condition
  1972 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1972 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1972 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case, Missing Jan & May
  1973 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case 
  1974 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1975 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1976 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1977 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case  
  1978 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1982 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case (Probably Serizawa)
  1983 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case (Probably Serizawa)
  1984 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case 
  1986 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case (Probably Serizawa Studio)
  

Katazome Calendar Folios
  1967 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1976 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Sack
  1977 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
  1978 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case


Serizawa Desktop Calendar Set (Small 9.1 x 14.1 cm)
  1959 Desktop Calendar Folio - Available Here


Miscellaneous Works on Paper (Probably K. Serizawa)
  c1948 - Shuri Area of Okinawa as Found in Okinawa Fubutsu (Views of Okinawa) - Available Here
  c1948 - Common Dress of Okinawa as Found in Okinawa Fubutsu (Views of Okinawa) - Available Here
  c1948 - The Art of Paper Making - Available Here
  Fuji & NY Theme - 13 x 17 in - Available Here
  Castle & Buildings - 13 x 17 1/4 in  - Available Here
  Children of the Snow - 4 x 5 7/8 in - Available Here
  Children of the Snow - 4 x 5 7/8 in - Available Here
  
Wall Hangings & Furoshiki (On Cloth)
  Furoshiki Cloth - 50cm x 50cm -  Available Here
  Furoshiki Cloth (large) - 142cm x 138cm - Okiniwa/Bingata type motif Available Here
  Phonetic Alphabet, Wall Hanging - Small/Mounted - Available Here
  Aesops Fables & Headgear/Fan - Wall Hangings - Small (2) - Available Here
  
Book Covers with Serizawa Art
  Shoki Otsu-e (Early Otsu-e), Mingei Sosho, Dai 2 - hen 
  (Folk Arts Series, No. 2)

  Mingei to Seikatsu (Folk Arts and Life) - Available Here