Tanaka Ryohei, "Grass on Roof"

While the traditional thatched roof (kayabuki) house appears to have fallen into disrepair, with the roof overtaken with errant foliage, Ryohei does a wonderful job paying homage to the beauty and craftsmanship of these homes.

Date: 1984
Size: Approx. 7" x 7" (image); 11" x 11" paper
Edition: 128/150
Condition: Small tape verso, otherwise fine/excellent

Tanaka Ryohei (1933-2019) achieved worldwide recognition for his intricately detailed etchings of rural Japan. Some of his most recognized compositions show farmhouses and the thatched-roofs that dominate Japan's countryside. And the fineness in the details of the trees he incorporates into his compositions adds to the allure of his works.