Umetaro Azechi, Bird and Mountain Man

Artist: Azechi Umetaro (1902–1999)
Title: Bird and Mountain Man (鳥と山男)
Medium: Woodblock print
Year: 1978
Edition: Limited edition (numbered 11/300)
Image size: approx. 40 × 28 cm
Paper size: approx. 54 × 39 cm
Condition: Excellent condition; near perfect
Signed: Pencil signed and dated by the artist

Notes:
A striking late-period work by Azechi Umetaro, one of the most recognizable figures of 20th-century Japanese printmaking. Best known for his iconic “mountain man” (山男) imagery, Azechi developed a highly personal visual language rooted in mountain folklore, solitude, and spiritual endurance.

In Bird and Mountain Man, the figure appears almost totemic—constructed from simplified geometric forms and held against a deep black field that intensifies its symbolic presence. The small striped bird at the figure’s chest introduces one of Azechi’s recurring themes: companionship between man and the natural world.

This is an excellent example of Azechi’s mature style—minimal, psychologically resonant, and immediately recognizable. Works from this period are among the most sought after by collectors for their balance of graphic strength and emotional depth.