Minagawa Taizō's "Gion Matsuri"[祇園祭] Few festivals in the world possess the history and grandeur of Kyoto's Gion Matsuri. First held in 869 AD as a ritual to pray for protection from epidemics, it has evolved into Japan's most celebrated festival and continues to take place every July. Its magnificent yamaboko floats, often described as "moving museums," are masterpieces of craftsmanship adorned with precious textiles, lacquerwork, and centuries of tradition. In this striking woodblock print, Taizō Minagawa captures the festival's unmistakable energy through his bold, modern style. Rather than depicting every intricate detail, he distills the towering floats into powerful geometric forms and vivid colors. The dramatic reds, deep blacks, and luminous gold evoke the excitement of the procession while preserving the elegance and balance for which Kyoto is renowned. Born in Kyoto in 1917, Minagawa was celebrated for uniting traditional Japanese woodblock printing with modern design. His background as an award-winning textile artist is reflected in the rhythmic composition, simplified forms, and vibrant palette that make his works instantly recognizable. The publisher is Geisodo and the printer is Suri Bunju, demonstrating the solid production background of a traditional collaboration between a publisher and craftsman. Geisodo is a long-established publisher based in Kyoto that has produced numerous artistic woodblock prints from the modern era to the present day. The quality of their work is highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. This work will be extremely appealing to lovers of traditional Japanese culture, or collectors who appreciate modern design in monochrome. ◆About the artist◆ Taizo Minagawa (1917-2005) is a highly acclaimed and award-winning Japanese dyer and printmaker. His main awards include the following: History and academic background: Born in Kyoto in 1917 Graduated from Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts, and later Kyoto Municipal Painting School (now Kyoto City University of Arts) Served as a lecturer at Bunka Gakuin and a professor at Kyoto City University of Arts 1941: First selected for Bunten (sponsored by the Ministry of Education) 1949: Special Selection at Nitten Exhibition 1960: Received the Kikka-sho (Chrysanthemum Award) at Nitten Exhibition for "Kyoto" 1984: Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award, Lifetime Achievement Award 1989: Kyoto City Cultural Merit Award 1993: Received the Fourth Class Order of the Sacred Treasure (Cultural Merit Award) 1997: Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award, Special Achievement Award ◆ Appeal and value of his works◆ Minagawa Taizo's works are highly regarded not only by public art museums in Japan, but also by art collectors in Europe and the United States, and are indispensable for those who are aiming to collect modern Japanese art. [Size] Overall size 34.8cm×47.2cm picture 27.5cm×34.5cm [Condition] The item is in good condition. As this is an older piece, signs of aging are evident. Please check the photos for details. Any taxes related to international shipping must be borne by the purchaser. ※Recently, there have been an increasing number of cases where items have been returned to Japan due to non-payment of taxes such as customs duties and consumption tax upon receipt. It is the buyer's responsibility to pay taxes, so please be sure to pay them. Occasionally, customs or the delivery company in your country may contact you for customs clearance via phone or email. Kindly ensure you are available to respond. Failure to do so may result in the parcel being returned to me, incurring additional shipping fees for reshipment. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. I will pack the item securely, but there may be cases where the item is repackaged at customs or damaged upon arrival due to a mistake by the shipping company. If this happens, please contact me immediately. Please promptly send me a photo of the item when it arrives and a photo of the damage to the item. We will provide refunds depending on the situation.