Catalog: Fine Art (182)

This print, done in 1969, has—Dan Tretiak writes—an abstract child and a reddish moon. He also saw the blue seemingly changing from light to dark. The print is horizontal, measuring 15in W x 11.5in H.

Haku Maki did many prints some with interesting backgrounds some not. This modest run of rather large pints had a special black background: it is the texture of old leather. . Maki created and used this technique only in 1981 prints and mainly in persimmons. The persimmons are plump and meaty the green leaves of the fruit are nicely proportioned. Maki did only a few twin persimmon prints and none after 1980 except this one. 81-10 is in frame 2. It is 12 x 18 inches 46 cm x 32 cm “The stem and leaf of the persimmon tree are done in raised glossy black urushi lacquer. “ The persimmon appears in autumn in Japan (and China) and is associated with that season The other one is 81 31 only one known to me gray leather like black. 81 32 We have added 81-10. A single persimmon with the distinctive gray background. I do not know the title of the print in frame 5 8110, 30 31 40 no number 32 white 50

Haku Maki started making embossed prints circa 1965. These in the main featured embossing that came out from the back to the front. However, I suddenly discovered that a number of prints in the 1976 - 1977 period were done with the embossing going into not out of the front This style or process does not seem to have hurt any aspect of Maki’s work nor benefited it. I have commented on this departure in style to a few friends but they have said the equivalent of "let It be." Is that all we can say? Shown here are the images for July, November and December. In these 3 prints, Maki did the embossing in the way I just described.

The kanji for Peach appears in the uppper right of the print. 17 of 24 Haku Maki was one of the grand masters of the Sosaku-hanga print movement. Maki Haku (1924-2000) is the artistic name of Maejima Tadaaki, who was born in Ibaraki Prefecture. He had no formal art training, but was guided by the s¨­saku hanga leading artist Onchi Ko­shiro 1891-1955). Maki Haku is best known for his abstract-calligrapic prints. He distorted and rearranged characters and strokes to produce striking and serene images. Maki passed away in 2000; as a result his prints are rapidly escalating in price and value as this talented artist will no longer be producing his unique work. ¨adapted from Robert Berg's listing

Haku Maki did some purely white prints—some had a small splash of color, others had none. This one, 81-3, offers three white plump persimmons. Persimmons were an oft-used subject, sometimes a single depiction of the fruit, sometimes two, but very rarely three persimmons and even more rarely done only in white. The print measures 9.5in W x 10.75in H and is in excellent condition. An edition of 130, this one is number 90.

Every so often, Maki decided to create an all-white print to which he added two or three small bits of color. Daniel Tretiak talked of Maki’s fondness for adding balance to his prints especially with the use of moons or splashes of color. Poem Y is an example. The print is beautifully textured with the colored spots placed in smooth areas among the overall embossing. It measures 17 1/8 square inches and is no.15 of an edition of 50.

Another of Maki's all-white prints, this one is of a Chinese coin. wu wei zhi zu Frame 5 shows the Han dynasty coin which inspired this 1981 print.

Figure 1 is one of a large group of prints that were themselves usually large in size and in subject—one Chinese character in red on a black background. Daniel Tretiak called these prints Big Reds. Maki tended to insert one or more of such prints in the Figure, Poem and Work series. This Figure is number 8 of an edition of 50. It measures 14in wide X 21.75in high. There is tape residue on all four sides of the back—it has no impact on the front. Like virtually all of his Big Reds, this Maki print is striking, attention-getting in any room.

22 31 This huge image was done in 1983 as a silk screen print. Condition is excellent overall except for tape remnants at the very top. These will not come through and will not affect the print when framed or shown to friends. The white circle sometimes called a Sun, shimmers as it does in many Maki prints. 27" x 31", 41/60 No chop For shipping Packed between two strong pieces of plywood.

In 1990 Haku Maki produced as many as 6 different images of famed Mt Fuji(Fuji-san). Here are three, each one printed from a different block.

Haku Maki Poem 71-25 63/100 This print is the cover image of my book ,The life and works of Haku Maki I have never offered it for sale. the Front edicts Maki’s rendering of I or Me It is a bold big Red the red is embossed on a black ink field this print is 20 ‘ x 30” after being restored in the US by Michael Minckler it is in very good shape there is a crease on the front only visible from the back The print has great red kanji. Placed in a huge matte and framed it will stand out in any home. There have been no copies on sale for a number of years. Sold as is where is. Please ask for any additional information Thanks! Sold with signed certificate of authenticity. SHIPPING: All buyers should pay $100 for insured EMS USPS express shipping. But I will pay $50. RETURNS: Accepted within 7 Days of receipt should the description of the print not be accurate. Since my descriptions are as detailed as possible (see feedback), “buyer remorse” is not an acceptable reason to return the print. If you are uncertain about any information I’ve posted, please ask prior to purchasing. If returned, buyer pays return shipping and refund is for cost of print only. Print must be returned in same condition.

Created in the 1980s, Haku Maki did a series of rarely seen prints called Drop. They seemed to depict oil dropped onto the surface of water. Drop 7 is one of those prints. It is no. 32 of 203 and it measures 9.75in W x 11in H. As with many old prints, it has tape residue on the four edges of the back from a previous framing but there is no impact on the face of the print.

The striking kanji means Rising. Maki produced this image in 1970 as a modest black on white print. This print is Poem 70- 48 (rising): The kanji,which is the print's core theme, is reiterated in the title. When this print first came out, it must have in a winner: 59/151 . This print has a golden yellow sun and a light blue tear or splash to give it verve. This is the Maki style. A year later in 1971 Maki produced a Big Red, the same character shown here was done as a Red kanji in striking image. Poem 71-50.

In the early 1980s Haku Maki produced this unusual print, Poem 3. It has a kanji bottom margin (Mountain and Water) and is only slightly embossed. It is as if he started to do a lithograph and then decided to emboss it a bit. It is a modest-size print and not spectacular. By the time he did this print Maki had finished with embossed kanji and ceramics and was heading toward less compelling work.Poem 3 has a gold sun right center, but the print has no drama and no oomph. 15x15cm.

Work 73-5 is a funny, lively snowman--or snow child. It is number 28 of an edition of 103 and measures 9.5in W x 17.5in H.

This, like many of his research notes, was an addendum to his book, The Life and Works of Haku Maki, which he published in 2007. He wrote an Appendix to the book called Chasing Maki. It is his story of buying prints and collecting images of Maki prints. This research note, written 10 years later, is about one of his chases, a chase that failed. Dan wrote: Please enjoy.

In 1981 Haku Maki suddenly produced a modest series of prints with a vinyl (old leather)-like background. I have already written about several of these in my Research Note 8. Now I present another: a striking orange red persimmon with leaves tipped with a special Japanese lacquer and the background in vinyl. This is 81-31 and it is 175/190.

persimmons galore. 81-3 added. * means I own it.