Title: Habataki (???? – “Wings Spread / Taking Flight”) Artist: Akiyama Iwao Technique: Woodblock print (mokuhanga) on Japanese washi paper Edition number: Written in pencil lower left – exact notation unclear, appears to read “156P” or similar (please see photos) Artist’s signature: Pencil-signed lower right (Iwao Akiyama) Image size: approx. 40 × 44.5 cm (15.7″ × 17.5″) Sheet size: approx. 47.3 × 63.3 cm (18.6″ × 24.9″) Condition: Good vintage condition; some light age-related toning/foxing to verso of sheet, image area clean and strong. The Work: This commanding print captures a crow in extreme close-up – its fierce eye, curved beak, and powerful talons filling the entire composition. The image is rendered in bold, near-monochromatic contrasts of deep black and textured grey, with the raw grain of the woodblock visible throughout, adding an almost primordial energy. The composition is strikingly modern, almost abstract in its tight cropping, yet unmistakably rooted in the Japanese tradition of bird-and-nature art (kacho-ga). About Akiyama Iwao: Born in 1921 in Niigata Prefecture, Akiyama Iwao was one of the leading figures of the post-war Japanese woodblock print movement (sosaku hanga). His works – particularly his powerful bird subjects – have been exhibited and collected internationally, and are held in museum collections worldwide. He received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career and was widely recognized for bringing new expressive power to the traditional Japanese woodblock medium. Image area: clean, strong impression. Sheet verso: light age toning and minor foxing spots, consistent with age. No tears, no significant damage to image. Unframed – sheet only. A rare opportunity to acquire a large, signed, numbered original print by this major Japanese artist at an accessible price point. If you are purchasing more than one item. About Used Artifacts and Antiques —– We make every effort to provide accurate and honest descriptions. Some items are over 100 years old. Please review all photos and descriptions carefully. Get images that make Supersized seem small. Showcase your items with Auctiva’s. Track Page Views With.