– Hideo Hagiwara (1913-2007), prominent figure in 20th-century Japanese printmaking – Etching (copper plate) executed in rich, atmospheric tones with dreamlike composition – Compact format ideal for intimate gallery walls or collector portfolios Summary: This original etching by Hideo Hagiwara captures the artist's signature blend of surrealism and poetic contemplation. Hagiwara, a leading name in post-war Japanese printmaking, graduated from Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1938 and dedicated decades to refining his printmaking techniques. After establishing himself in oil painting, illness in the 1950s led him to rediscover printmaking, where he excelled in lithography, woodblock, and etching. This particular work—Riding a Dream—exemplifies his ability to weave fantasy and reality into atmospheric, contemplative imagery. The composition carries an otherworldly quality, inviting viewers to explore the subtle interplay of light and shadow that became his hallmark. There are artists who make prints, and then there are printmakers who create entire worlds through their chosen medium. Hagiwara belonged firmly to the latter category. His etchings invite you to pause, to look deeper, to let the mind wander alongside the image. Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1913, Hagiwara studied figure drawing and design at Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he encountered both woodblock and copper-plate techniques during his training. After graduation, he embarked on a career as an oil painter. However, a prolonged illness in the early 1950s shifted his trajectory. Confined to rest, he began experimenting with printmaking as a more manageable medium—and discovered his true calling. By the late 1950s, his prints were gaining recognition both domestically and internationally. He went on to teach at Tokyo University of the Arts, nurturing a new generation of Japanese printmakers while continuing to refine his own visual language. Etching, or copper-plate engraving, allowed Hagiwara to achieve nuanced gradations and intricate linework that perfectly suited his contemplative, dreamlike subjects. The process involves coating a copper plate with a resin ground, then drawing through it with a needle to expose the metal beneath. Acid bites into these exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink during printing. The resulting images possess a delicate, almost tremulous quality—lines that seem to breathe on the page. Hagiwara mastered this technique to produce prints that hover between the real and the imagined, the conscious and the subconscious. Riding a Dream showcases his mature style: soft, modulated tones that shift like mist, forms that emerge and dissolve, a sense of narrative suspended in mid-air. The composition reads almost like a visual haiku—brief, evocative, open to interpretation. In contemporary interiors, this print brings a note of quiet introspection. Its monochromatic palette and restrained scale make it remarkably versatile, slipping easily into minimalist Scandinavian schemes, mid-century modern settings, or eclectic gallery walls where Japanese graphic art mingles with European modernism. The print shows some signs of age and handling consistent with a vintage work—minor discolouration or foxing may be present, and the paper may exhibit slight creasing or edge wear. These characteristics do not detract from the image itself but rather testify to the print's journey through time. Overall condition remains good for a work of this age. Hagiwara's prints are held in major collections in Japan and abroad, and his work continues to attract serious collectors of Japanese post-war graphic art. He exhibited widely throughout his long career, from solo shows in Tokyo galleries to participation in international print biennials. His influence on Japanese printmaking pedagogy is equally significant—many of his former students went on to become respected artists in their own right. If you've been searching for a window into the contemplative side of Japanese modernism, this etching offers precisely that—a moment of stillness, a fragment of dream, rendered with technical mastery and poetic restraint. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer's responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese prints and guarantee this piece's authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours. 1167