Panels Folded Out
Serizawa, Keisuke:
Okinawa Fubutsu (Views of Okinawan), Japan, 1948, 8 1/4 x 10 1/2 in, dark blue covers, continuous sheet foldout (Japanese folding book) format with a series of panels and a total expanded length of 190 in. Some panels span two leaves and others are contained in a single leaf. There is a blank page (panel) at the beginning and end. The book pictorially illustrates various folk crafts of Okinawa. The illustrations are created through the application of colors using a stencil dying technique which Serizawa was noted for. Serizawa's technique, known as "Katazome" or stencil dyeing, was a pioneering effort in this field of color illustrations. He used paper cutout patterns then applied colors to the stencils. The resulting illustrations appear very similar to the bingata process most often found on textile products of Okinawa. Printed in a very limited quantity of 150 copies.
Panel - Single Leaf
Panel - Spans Two Leaves
Panel - Spans Two Leaves
Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984)
In 1956 Serizawa was designated by the Government of Japan as a "Living National Treasure" (intangible cultural asset) for his "Mingei" (folk art) work using hand-stenciled dyeing (katazome) techniques. Serizawa visited Okinawa several times and learned the famed Ryukyu bingata method of stencil dyeing. His first visit was in 1938 where he studied bingata techniques under Katatsue-ya in Naha. He carried this traditional technique into his folk art work. Okinawan designs are frequently seen in his work. In addition, Serizawa merged Chinese floral dyeing methods and South Pacific batik methods into his work. Serizawa's works cover an wide field. His designs were reproduced for use as book cover illustrations, and newspaper and magazine illustrations. His folk art applications included kimono and obi cloth, paper prints, wall hangings/scrolls, folding screens, curtains, fans, shochibubai (pine, bamboo and plum blossoms hangings considered to bring good luck) and calendars. A unique feature of his work has been described in these terms:
The distinguishing trait of Serizawa's katazome method is the use of the starch mixture to create, not a colored area as is current in direct-dyeing process, but a blank, undyed one that forms a part of the pattern and that can later be colored by hand in multi-color or monochrome as the designer sees fit. Keisuke Serizawa, the Stencil Artist, Volume 1, 1967
It is my understanding that the stencil dyeing procedures are:
- Using a stencil, areas to be left uncolored are covered with a dye resistant starch paste (nori tsuke).
- Colors are then applied by dipping or brushing, generally from lighter to darker colors. Serizawa generally used traditional vegetable dyes and seldom used chemical dyes.
- After these colors have dried, the key design (key stencil) is used to apply the main design (iro sashi).
- The paste is washed off (mizu ari) and the material dried in the sun (harika).
A brochure describing the stencil-dyed paper process published by the Takumi Craft Show, Tokyo, is here.
An interesting aspect of this process is the use of every day items. For example, the dye resistant paste was generally made from boiled rice (combined with lime). The inks (generally vegetable dyes), particularly black were mixed with tofu water, a by-product in the making of curd from soy beans, to give richer color and indelibility.
Serizawa was a leading member of the Mingei (folk craft) movement founded in 1926 by Soetsu Yanagi, Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai. The Serizawa Keisuke Art and Craft Museum at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai has a large and specialized collection of his work. The Mingei International Museum of Folk Art located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, has an important collection of works by Serizawa. Serizawa also donated several items to the museum which were not his own works but of important cultural significance.
Serizawa Calendars. For information on Serizawa calendar folios, click here.
Books Relating to Keisuke Serizawa
Serizawa Books: In Keisuke Serizawa it is stated that:
Keisuke Serizawa has produced numerous masterpieces in illustrated books sometimes in Japanese and other times in contemporary western style, including Don Quixote, Vincent Van Gogh, A Day at Mashiko, Ainu Art and Butsuge (poems of Soetsu Yangi). Over three hundred limited editions reveal his vast knowledge of human psychology as well as of the natural world and are highly prized among collectors. 1979 Mingei Catalogue at page 9.
Despite the fact that numerous books were apparently produced, they are seldom seen. I am aware of the following books.
- 1936, Ehon Don Kihote (Don Quixote Picture Book) or Don Quixote a La Japonaise, Mukomachi (near Kyoto), Sunward Press, Bunsho Jagaku, proprietor, October 1936, large 8vo (8 1/4 x 11 1/4 in - 20.9 x 28.7 cm), text in Japanese only, high quality Japanese paper in folded sheets, kangxi Japanese style binding, illustrated covers, spine not covered except for 1 inch at the head and foot, 31 illustrations (28 double page illustrations and 3 single page), 34 folded pages for a total of 68 pages. For more information on this book, click here.
- 1948, Landscapes of Okinawa. For more information on this book, click here.
- 1943, Ryukyu no Katatsuki (Ryukyuan Prints), Kyoto, Kyoto Shoin, 15 pages with printed cloth samples, 8 photographic illustrations, 11 illustrations of paper stencils, 13 drawings of the textile printing process 67 pages of text.
- 1961, Haruo Sato.
Books with Serizawa Covers/Art Work:
- 1934, Lafcadio Hearn, Letters from Shimane and Kyushu, Kyoto, The Sunward Press, 1934, limited edition of 100 numbered copies privately printed for Dr. Sanki Ichikawa, laid paper, 8vo, 71 pp. Cover is a stenciled design by Keisuke Serizawa.
- 1952, Tindale, Thomas K. & Harriet R., Handmade Papers of Japan, Rutland, Tuttle, 4 volumes. Preface by Dard Hunter. Eight endpapers with stencil illustrations by Keisuke Serizawa.
- 1964, Haruo Sato, Bunka no Hangyaku (Revolt of Cultures), published in the Geise Shimbun.
Exhibition Catalogues:
- 1967, Keisuke Serizawa, The Stencil Artist, Volume 1, Tokyo, Tsukiji Shokan Publishing Company, Ltd, distributed by the Maruzen Co., Ltd, 1967, large 8vo (9 x 11 1/2 in - 22.8 x 29.2 cm), gilt decoration on covers and gilt lettering on spine, 92 images of Serizawa's work (12 color and 80 black and white), photograph of Serizawa, unpaginated. For more information on this book, click here.
- 1976, Serizawa, Paris, Grand Palis, 24 x 24 cm, soft cover, 122 pages. Exhibition of Serizawa art from November 23, 1976 - February 14, 1977.
- 1979, Keisuke Serizawa & Martha Longenecker, Keisuke Serizawa, La Jolla, CA, Mingei International Museum of Wold Folk Art, oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in - 24 x 21.5 cm), soft covers, frontispiece photograph of Keisuke Serizawa, numerous color and black and white photographic illustrations, 46 pp. Catalogue for an exhibition of Serizawa's art held at the Mingei Museum from June 23 to October 14, 1979. Includes an illustrated discussion of the artist's stencil art techniques. Also includes a detailed "Biographical Notes" section on Serizawa. The catalogue lists all exhibits and pictures several, many full page and in color. Items include images for the artist's illustrated books, kimonos, obis, screens and norens (curtains).
Available - 1979 Mingei Museum Exhibit Catalogue- Purchase Here
- 2001, Serizawa, Master of Japanese Textile Design, Sendai, Japan, Tohoku Fukushi University, Serizawa Keisuke Art and Craft Museum, 2001, oblong 8vo (9 1/2 x 10 in), illustrated stiff paper wraps, illustrated dust jacket, 190+ items pictured in color, Japanese and English text, 133 pp. A catalogue for an exhibition of Keisuke Serizawa's work held August 11 through November 4, 2001 in the National Museums of Scotland. The exhibition items are followed by a biography (chronological listing of key events in Serizawa's life), an essay on "The Art of Serizawa Keisuke" by Hamada Shukuko, an essay on the "Kataezome Technique" and a "List of Works" where each of the 191 numbered items pictured are discussed in more detail including the year produced. A comprehensive illustrated presentation of Serizawa's work spanning all formats including kimono, obi, noren, screens, calendars (1946 calendar shown), stenciled paper (The Great Market in Naha City, Okinawa is shown), wall hangings, scrolls, book type illustrated stories, magazine covers, book covers and cases and paintings on glass. Includes messages from Mark Jones, Sir Hugh Cortazzi, Lord Blackenham, His Excellency Hayashi Sadayui and Serizawa Chosuke. ISBN 4-901459-06-6
Serizawa Art, Items Available for Purchase
1956 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case - Type 2
1958 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
1961 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Sack
1963 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
1963 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Sack
1967 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
1972 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
1973 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case (incorrect, dated 1974)
1976 Calendar Folio - Available Here - Folding Case
Katazome Calendar Folios (Source Unknown)
Out of stock.
Miscellaneous Works on Paper (Probably K. Serizawa)
Fuji & NY Theme - 13 x 17 in - Available Here
Castle & Buildings - 13 x 17 1/4 in - Available Here
Children of the Snow - 4 x 5 7/7 in - Available Here
Wall Hangings (On Cloth)
Aesops Fables, Dark Blue Background, Large Wall Hanging - Available Here
Phonetic Alphabet, Wall Hanging - Large - Available Here
Phonetic Alphabet, Wall Hanging - Small/Mounted - Available Here
Kilms of North-Eastern Japan, Wall Hanging - Large - Available Here
Aesops Fables & Headgear/Fan - Wall Hangings - Small (2) - Available Here
Book Covers with Serizawa Art
Shoki Otsu-e (Early Otsu-e), Mingei Sosho, Dai 2 - hen
(Folk Arts Series, No. 2) - Available Here
Mingei to Seikatsu (Folk Arts and Life) - Available Here
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