Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
American, 1927-2007
Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Clifton Karhu was one of the most acclaimed American woodblock artists to work in Japan. Though the son of two painters and artistically inclined from an early age, Karhu joined the military. Stationed at the American Navy base in Sasebo from 1946 to 1948, he fell in love with Japan. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Minneapolis Art School (1950-1952) before returning to Japan in 1952, this time as a missionary of the Lutheran church. From Hiroshima to Kyoto, he and his wife sold bibles until he became disillusioned with the mission. Settling in Gifu prefecture, he returned to art, working in oils and watercolor. Karhu’s reputation grew swiftly, winning first prize at the Middle Pacific Art Group Exhibition, and held his first solo exhibition at Shin Gifu Gallery. In 1963, Karhu moved to Kyoto. Immersed in the city’s vibrant artistic community, he began a successful career in woodblock printmaking. His self-carved and self-printed works portray traditional style houses and architectural details. Deeply expressive, yet precise and geometric, Karhu's style earned him enormous popularity worldwide.When asked about his medium, he states: “In Kyoto the vertical and horizontal lines of the tile roofs and the latticed windows strike a special harmony, like something alive. In my prints of Kyoto, I always strive to express this human warmth. Since wood accounts for much of Kyoto’s beauty, it may also be the best way that beauty can be expressed - through woodblock prints.”(Biography provided by Glenn Green Galleries)
7
to
7
7
7
7
3
1
7
2
3
1
2
Height
to
Width
to
7
3
2
1
6
6
6
15
429
287
265
254
Creator: Clifton Karhu
Clifton Karhu " Chimoto 1968 " woodcut/woodblock print , signed pencil 22/50
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful woodcut/woodblock print by the well known , American/Japan artist Clifton Karhu , signed and dated in pencil . lower margen . The image / paper is approximate 10.75 X 9.5 i...
Category
1960s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu ‘House in Takaido’ Woodblock c1976 Japan
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Oakland, CA
Beautiful large scale woodblock by acclaimed artist, Clifton Karhu titled "House in Takaido" c1976. Beautifully double mat framed in metal. Karhu was based in Kyoto for most of his v...
Category
1970s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Metal
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print "Kamigano"
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gained great e...
Category
20th Century Japanese Showa Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu Original Color Woodblock, 1974, Koshihata Autumn
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This beautiful, limited edition original color woodblock is by the famous
Showa Shin Hanga woodblock master Clifton Karhu (1927-2007).
It bears the original frame and has a label on the back from a Tokyo gallery.
The work is a beautiful impression with rich color. It and the frame are in excellent condition.
The print measures 16 x 16 inches. The frame is 23 ½ x 23 ½ inches.
It is numbered lower left as AP5 - Artist Proof #5 and is pencil signed and dated ‘74 lower right.
An American of Finnish descent, Clifton Karhu was born in Minnesota in 1927. Raised together with his twin brother Raymond, Karhu was the son of painters Arne and Anna Karhu. After his graduation in 1946 he served in the military at an American Navy base in Japan.
Returning to America following his military service in 1950, Karhu enrolled at the Minneapolis School of Art but quit two years later to pursue missionary work as a Lutheran minister.
Karhu left the missionary work in 1958 and chose to move his new family to Gifu City, a small provincial town northwest of Kyoto, Japan where he set about returning to his art. Karhu soon found local success in 1961; obtaining first prize at the Chubu Taiheijo Bijutsu Kyokai Ten (The Middle Pacific Art Group Exhibition) and fixing his first single, professional exhibition at the Shin...
Category
Late 20th Century Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Rare 1971 Clifton Karhu Japanese Woodblock Print Titled "Winter Garden"
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Media, PA
A Finnish-American who lived and died in Japan, Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) devoted himself to the art of woodblock printmaking and is today considered one of the foremost masters of t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Clifton Karhu Signed Limited Ed. Japanese Woodblock Print Karasuma Street, Kyoto
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Studio City, CA
An absolutely stunning, large woodblock print by American master printmaker Clifton Karhu who lived in Japan for over 50 years. Karhu's work gai...
Category
20th Century Japanese Showa Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu ‘Lane in Gion’ Woodblock c1971 Japan
By Clifton Karhu
Located in Oakland, CA
Stunning large scale "Artist Proof" edition by acclaimed woodblock artist, Clifton Karhu titled "Lane in Gion" c1971. Beautifully double mat framed in metal. Karhu was based in Kyoto...
Category
1970s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Metal
Related Items
Japanese Meiji Toyohana Chikanobu Woodblock Print Triptych from Plum Garden Set
By Toyohara Chikanobu
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji period framed set of three woodblock prints from the 'Plum Garden' series, made by Toyohana Chikanobu (1838-1912). An example of this print is at the Kanagawa Prefecture Museum in Yokohama.
The set dates from circa 1880. The first signature on the lower left corner is the publishers' name and address (Takegawa Unokichi), the second one in the upper right corner is the date 1889 and the third one in the lower right corner is 'Japanese Plum...
Category
1880s Japanese Meiji Antique Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
H 19 in W 35 in D 1 in
Kiyoshi Saito Signed Japanese Woodblock Geisha Print Maiko Kyoto 2
By Kiyoshi Saitō
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully and serenely composed woodblock print by famed Japanese printmaker Kiyoshi Saito. Many consider Saito to be one of the most important, if not the most important, contem...
Category
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Donald Judd, 'Untitled' 1974, Etching
By Donald Judd
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Signed, dated, and numbered to lower right ‘15/35 Judd '74’. This work is number 15 from the edition of 35 (with one artist's proof) printed by Styria Studio, New York and co-publish...
Category
1970s Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Joichi Hoshi ‘One Tree’ Woodblock c1974 Japan
By Joichi Hoshi
Located in Oakland, CA
Fantastic woodblock by well noted Japanese artist, Joichi Hoshi c1974. In original frame with non-glare museum glass.
Hoshi was a Japanese printmaker best known for his woodblock p...
Category
1970s Japanese Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Kaoru Kawano Signed Lifetime Edition Japanese Woodblock Print the Big Owl
By Kaoru Kawano
Located in Studio City, CA
An engaging and quite coveted work by famed Japanese artist Kaoru Kawano who was known for his whimsical portrayals of women, children, and animals. Stylistically, he was one of the first Japanese artists to combine Western-style elements with the traditional methods of woodblock printmaking. This work is known as "The Big Owl" Kawano's owl images are some of his most popular works, this one in particular.
This print is hand signed in pencil and sealed (in red) by Kawano within the image.
This work is a quite rare self-printed lifetime print. Prints made and signed by Kawano are becoming harder to find.
A very beautiful and rich image. Would make for a great addition to any Japanese art and print collection or eye-catching stand-out accent work in about any setting.
Frame dimensions: 21.25" high, 16.25" wide, .5" deep
Viewable art: 14.5" x 9.5".
Please note that the work is framed but there is no glass covering...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
H 21.25 in W 16.25 in D 0.5 in
Kaoru Kawano Signed Framed Japanese Woodblock Print Two Girls
By Kaoru Kawano
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and charming work by famed Japanese artist Kaoru Kawano who was known for his whimsical portrayals of women, children, and animals. Stylistically, he was one of the first...
Category
1950s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Hiroyuki Tajima Signed Limited Edition Abstract Zen Japanese Woodblock Print
By Hiroyuki Tajima
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeous, luminous, and sumptuously colored woodblock print by Japanese artist Hiroyuki Tajima titled "Small Garden, B" Tajima is famed for his use of dark, rich colors and striking abstract compositions and was heavily influenced and guided by his Zen Buddhist beliefs.
The print is pencil signed, titled, dated (1967), and apparently numbered (6/50).
Would be a great addition to any Japanese or Asian print collection or eye-catching stand-alone work in about any setting.
His work can be found in various collections and museums including:
The British Musem, London UK
The Japanese Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Harvard Art Museum
Portland Art...
Category
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood, Paper
H 32.5 in W 26.5 in D 1 in
Signed Limited Edition Modern Abstract Japanese Woodblock Print Sunset Sailing
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully composed, richly and brightly coloured modern abstract Japanese style woodblock print titled "Sunset Sailing"
The work is han...
Category
20th Century Modern Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Metal
H 11.25 in W 14.25 in D 1 in
Antique Framed Japanese Shunga Woodblock Print of a Man and a Woman Making Love
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Japanese Shunga woodblock print in gilt frame depicting a man and a woman making love. Created in Japan, this woodblock print called...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint, Glass, Wood
H 16.5 in W 13.5 in D 1 in
Hodaka Yoshida Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print "Cause, Blue"
By Hodaka Yoshida
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully realized, deeply colored abstract work titled "Cause, Blue" by renowned Japanese modern artist Hodaka Yoshida who was the second son of one of Japan's most celebrated a...
Category
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
H 37.5 in W 22 in D 1.5 in
Kiyoshi Saito Signed Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print Toriemoto Kyoto B
By Kiyoshi Saitō
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully and darkly composed woodblock print by famed Japanese printmaker Kiyoshi Saito. Many consider Saito to be one of the most important, if not the most important, contempo...
Category
1960s Japanese Showa Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
H 17.5 in W 23.75 in D 0.1 in
Japanese Traditional Woodblock Print Snow Flowers
Located in Weesp, NL
Original Japanese polychrome woodblock print "snowflowers" by Nishijima Katsuyuki. Signbed by the artist in pencil in the lower right corner. The subject in this artwork is the Honjin (Inn for Daimyô) in Kusatsu on a snowy day.
Honkin was the most prestigious accommodation in Shukuba (post town) in the Edo period. Kasatsu-juku Honjin was the landmark of Kusatsu-juku for about 240 years from the early Edo period to the early Meiji period. The books of guest records are written about many famous historical...
Category
1980s Modern Vintage Clifton Karhu Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Clifton Karhu wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
Clifton Karhu wall decorations are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Clifton Karhu wall decorations, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original wall decorations by Clifton Karhu were created in the mid-century modern style in japan during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wall decorations by Kaoru Kawano, Junichiro Sekino, and Kiyoshi Saitō. Prices for Clifton Karhu wall decorations can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,800 and can go as high as $4,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,495.