Inagaki Tomoo was a Japanese printmaker born in Tokyo, Japan in the year 1902. Like many other sosaku- hanga artists he was inspired and mentored by Koshiro Onchi and Un-ichi Hiratsuka. Tomoo was a renown printmaker working with many subjects from landscapes, animals, and florals.
For his working process Tomoo would make preliminary drawings using grid lines to make sure items were located with a great sense of design.
Inagaki Tomoo studied with print master Hamada Masuji. He also went to an art high school. After this he opened his own design studio, but this dream was interrupted by the demands of World War Two.
The artist began to have his work published in 1924 appearing in a leading arts magazine titled shi to hanga that featured sosaku- hanga artists and focused on visual arts (printmaking in particular) and poetry.
Very few print artists during this era were able to make a living entirely from their prints. Inagaki Tomoo worked in a steel factory and also taught art at the high school art.
Tomoo is renown for his prints of animals. Tomoo was legendary for his portrayal of cats. The artist worked with other animals, but his cats are the most renown. He began to print them in the 1950s.
Tomoo flourished the most in his career in the 1950s.
Inagaki Tomoo passed away in 1980.
Price range information: Works range from $500 to $5,000.
Love those cats!
D
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