1985, woodblock print on paper, pencil signed, titled, and numbered 5/100 at lower margin, matted and framed under glass.

Sheet sight 10 1/2 x 26 1/2 in. Frame dimensions 16 1/4 x 32 1/2 in.

American artist Clifton Karhu was born in Minnesota, the son of painters Arne and Anna Karhu. Clifton served at an American Navy base in Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan following the end of the Second World War. He returned to America following his military service and enrolled as an art student at the Minneapolis School of Art before dropping out after two years to serve as a Lutheran Minister.

Eventually, Karhu abandoned missionary work and moved his family to Gifu City, Japan in 1958 in pursuit of a career as an artist. Karhu found local success in 1961 obtaining first prize at the Chubu Taiheijo Bijutsu Kyokai Ten, and exhibiting at the Shin Gifu Gallery in Gifu. Karhu settled in Kyoto in 1963 and found tutelage under-recognized woodblock artist/gallery owner Tetsuo Yamada and color theorist Stanton Macdonald-Wright. He was elected as head of the Kyoto Japan Print Association and was recognized widely for his success in woodblock printing, carving many of his own blocks.


Good estate condition; overall light even toning; tape at each corner and edge to mat; small area of damp staining at left side visible only en verso.