Japanese 1902 - 1999

A farm boy from Ehime on the island of Shikoku, Azechi endured years of failure and impoverishment before winning recognition for his prints. Azechi joined the circle of print artists who formed around Hiratsuka Un'ichi and began to make woodblock prints with Hiratsuka's encouragement.

Azechi developed his own expressive technique, using a flat, straight-end chisel to scrape the edge of a line, leaving it both soft and coarse. His love of mountaineering inspired subject matter that was deliberately rough, stark, and richly colored. Azechi was invited to participate in the Lost Tokyo series issued by leading Creative Print artists in 1949.  Source: Askart