De Aga rivier 1917

Morita Tsunetomo made this print of the Aga River at an unknown date using woodblock and ink. Morita was associated with the creative print movement, or Sosaku-hanga, which arose in the early 20th century in Japan. What distinguished artists like Morita was a desire to be involved in all stages of printmaking, from the initial design and carving of the woodblock to the printing itself. The movement was in part a response to the commercialization of art and the perceived loss of artistic control in traditional printmaking. Sosaku-hanga artists aimed to reclaim the creative process and express their individual artistic vision more directly. The movement was influenced by broader social and cultural shifts towards individualism and artistic experimentation in early 20th-century Japan. By examining exhibition records, artist biographies, and critical reviews, historians can better understand the social and institutional context in which artists like Morita Tsunetomo operated.