Bowdoin College Museum of Art | - Joy of the Mountain

Preview image of work. woodblock on paper, Joy of the Mountain 29059

2015.34.1

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Joy of the Mountain

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Artist

Umetaro Azechi (Uwajima in Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan, 1902 - )

Title

Joy of the Mountain

Creation Date

1957

Dimensions

24 5/8 x 17 1/4 in. (62.55 x 43.82 cm)

Object Type

Creation Place

Asia, Japan

Medium and Support

woodblock on paper

Credit Line

Gift of Ted and Marcia Marks

Copyright

This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s Copyright Terms and Conditions.

Accession Number

2015.34.1

Born into a family of farmers on the island of Shikoku, Azechi was a largely self-taught artist who cultivated a highly individual style. After moving to Tokyo in the 1920s, he joined sōsaku-hanga through Un’ichi Hiratsuka (exhibited diagonally across the room), a leader of the movement. By the 1940s Azechi had established his signature aesthetic of deep earthy pigments and blocky “primitive” forms. In the postwar period, Azechi devoted himself to alpine climbing. Japan's mountain peaks inspired many of his works. The intense rush of the ascent and the rewarding thrill of reaching a summit are revealed through the figure's toothy smile and face, tanned by years of exposure to the bright sun of the mountains. The strongly textured pattern of the ice axe references the rough surface of the wooden matrix. The recurring motif of a man with bird in hand implies a personal connection with nature, also channeled through Azechi’s love of climbing—and his art.