Van Zelst Family Collection, 1959-2002 | Northern Illinois University

Un-ichi Hiratsuka was a master of Ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock printing.  Un-ichi Hiratsuka was born in 1859 and became a painting student in the 1910s.  Going through his studies he valued both the Modern Western art as well as the tradition Japanese Ukiyo-e printmaking.  He later trained under Igami Bonkotsu and his dual education and interests later led him to the Japanese Creative Print Society and the sosaku hanga (creative prints) movement.  This movement led to a revival of traditional Japanese printmaking mixed with a modern twist and a flair for personal expression.

In 1962, he and his wife moved to the United States to live closer to their daughter, Keiko Moore, who lived in Washington D.C.  While in Washington, Hiratsuka began printing the scenery around him, full of high buildings and bridges, which would catch the eye of Theodore Van Zelst (who was an engineer involved in bridge design).  Van Zelst was so taken by Hiratsuka’s artwork that he soon accumulated a collection of his prints, along with corresponding to the Hiratsuka family, forming a life-long friendship.  Hiratsuka and his wife eventually moved back to Japan and Un-ichi Hiratsuka later died at the age of 102 in 1997.   

For more information about Un’ichi Hiratsuka, please see the Rare Books Van Zelst acquisition file.

English
Japanese