Rokushu Mizufune, Japanese, 1912 to 1980, color woodblock print on paper, ex libris depicting a bird, 1970. Signed with Calligraphy, to the left side. Inscribed and dated in the print, upper to the center. Provenance: TC and TC art project, Brooklyn, NYC. 2013. Rokushu Mizufune was born in 1912 in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. He entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts where he studied sculpture and graduated in 1936. From Hiratsuka Unichi he learned woodblock printmaking. While still a student, he became a co founder in 1932 of the artist group Shin Hanga Shudan New Print Group. Another group member was Ono Tadashige who had a developed a printing technique of his own by printing lighter colors over a dark background which resulted in rather gloomy and coarse print images typical for Tadashige Ono. After the Pacific war, the artist worked as an art teacher. From 1960 until 1977 he was headmaster of Kanto Gakuin Primary School. But he continued to pursue his career as a sculptor and printmaker. Rokushu Mizufune participated in the International Print biennials of Tokyo and elsewhere. In 1959 he became a member of Japan Print Association From 1961 to 1962 he worked in the U.S.A. in Vermont as artist in residence. Vintage and Mid Century Asian Graphic Art Prints and Collectibles.