Fantasy in White (1) 白の幻想（1）

Multiple layers of colors created by printing on both sides of the paper give this work exceptional depth for a print. Starting from the study of traditional Japanese printing techniques, Hagiwara has made many innovations in woodprint which are incorporated in his works. The works produced in and after 1960 are notable for their beautiful colors reminiscent of oil painting which the artist studied at the art university, and the traces of rubbing from the printing process also add certain expression. Taking advantage of the woodprint's strength in producing planes, he has added innovations in pigment and printing to produce works unlike anything in woodprint that existed before. In that sense, he has revived woodprint as a contemporary art form. Although he started his career as a print artist relatively late at the age of 40, his reputation is now well established. He has won many awards at international biennial print exhibitions, the first of which being the one he received in "The 2nd International Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Tokyo" in 1960.