Clifton W. Karhu (1927-2007): A Place in Gion II, 44/50, 1968

This well worn limited edition woodblock print was purchased in Kyoto in November 1970 according to our mother’s note on the original folio from the Ashiya Gallery, and on the back of the print.  While the edges are wrinkled and stained from some sort of mounting paste (see yellow marks on the back), the print itself has retained its original colors over time. Below the image is the limited edition number 44/50, the title, the artist’s signature, and the year ’68.
 
Clifton W. Karhu was an American artist who moved to Kyoto and became one of the few to gain fame for his Japanese woodblock prints. He first lived in Japan when with the US Navy, then returned as a door-to-door missionary, only to decide in 1958 that his real calling was as an artist. He started with oil paintings and watercolors. In 1964, he made his debut as a woodblock printer.
 
According to artelino.com: Clifton Karhu's woodblock prints were typically limited editions, hand-signed by the artist. A standard edition size is about 100 copies, with prices starting at USD 1,000. We were able to find this image only in one place online, titled Gion II by the artist (not A Place in Gion II), with a print run of 100 instead of 50, and slightly more muted colors. We are contacting auction houses to find out more.
 
H 7 1/2” x 6 3/8”
Print 5 1/2” x 4 1/2”
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.