Sun in the Snow – Artist's Proof Woodblock Print by Umetaro Azechi (1962)

Artist: Umetaro Azechi (畦地梅太郎)
Title: Sun in the Snow (雪の中の太陽)
Medium: Woodblock print
Edition: Artist's Proof (A.P.)
Year: 1962
Height / Sheet Size / Image Size: Please inquire.
Condition: Excellent condition.

Notes:
This print captures many of the qualities that have made Kaoru Azechi one of Japan's most distinctive twentieth-century printmakers. A solitary figure stands beneath a brilliant red winter sun, surrounded by snow that is described not as empty white space but as a lively web of intersecting lines. Above, a small bird glides across the deep blue sky, introducing a quiet sense of movement and companionship.

Rather than striving for realism, Azechi distilled mountains, birds, and people into highly personal symbols. The result is a visual language that feels both ancient and modern, playful yet deeply contemplative. The restrained palette allows the crimson sun and subtle touches of red to resonate throughout the composition, while the textured carving gives the snow an unexpected warmth and vitality.

An Artist's Proof from one of Azechi's most recognizable periods, this print is both visually striking and quietly poetic.

Keywords: Azechi, 畦地梅太郎, Sun in the Snow, 雪の中の太陽, Japanese woodblock print, sosaku hanga, artist's proof, mountain art, modern Japanese print, bird, winter