| Listed below are all of the Kaoru Kawano prints that I have catalogued, although this is certainly an incomplete list. Kawano was active from the mid-1940s to the early 1960s, during which time he became internationally renown. Unfortunately, no publicly available catalog of his prints exists, and he never included a date on even his limited-edition prints, so determining print design date is very difficult, and those dates given below are only estimates. Based on my current (incomplete!) understanding of Kawano's prints, his editions can be categorised into the following groups:
Kawano's double-oban prints are mostly limited-edition lifetime strikes that have both a pencil signature (within the image or in the bottom margin) and an edition number in the bottom margin. There appears to be very few posthumous editions of these prints (the prints called "Butterflies (C)" and "Hair" below are rare examples). Posthumous editions will have neither an edition number, nor a hand-written pencil signature within the image. Instead, they will generally have a black circular seal on the verso, stencil text in the bottom margin, and possibly an impressed signature within the image. Kawano's oban-sized pencil-signed prints are all lifetime strikes. Kawano's oban-sized prints that are not pencil-signed are all posthumous strikes. These prints will always have a black circular seal on the verso. Kawano's chuban and postcard sized prints that are pencil-signed are obviously all lifetime strikes. The signature is always in the margin area. Those prints without a pencil signature are probably all posthumous editions.
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| The above groupings should not be considered concrete, as they are based on anecdotal evidence only. If you have a differing opinion to the above, or you have prints that do not fit the above categories, I would love to hear from you (email me here). Also, large scans or digital images of prints that do not appear in the catalog are most welcome. Thanks to all Kawano print owners who have generously made image contributions to help build this database.
PS: I purchase Kawano limited edition prints for my personal Kawano collection. Please read here before emailing me.
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| Double Oban Sized Prints (approx. 35 x 50cm, 14 x 20 inches) | ||||
','Kawano-Butterflies_(C)x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','No Limited Edition number, and stencil text in lower margin, so probably a posthumous edition. The image measures 21 1/2 x 15 inches and the paper measures 23 3/4 x 18 inches.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-DANCING_FIGURE,_Mai_091-LEx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Image area is 15” x 22”','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure-Camellia-LE-x800.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Image size is 22 1/2” x 9 1/2 inches. Image source: My personal collection.','760', '750')) |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_(Eshima)x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','This print has no LE number but it is pencil signed in the image. It also has a black circular seal on the back of the print.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-DO-Dancing_Figure_Sagimusume-x800.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Pencil signed in image. Image size is 22 x 11 inches. Image source: My personal collection.','760', '750')) |
| Butterflies (C) No L.E. Number c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Mai Ogi) L.E. of 300 c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Camellia) 椿孥 L.E. of 300 c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Eshima) No L.E. Number c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Sagimusume) L.E. of 300 c1950s |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_(Snow_Camellia)x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','From my personal collection. Pencil signed in image, and \'Self Carved, Self Printed\' washi paper tag on verso.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Face_B-LE-01-x800.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','23 ¾” by 18”. Edition of 150 prints. Red Kawano seal at lower left in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: Ohmi Gallery - personal collection.','840', '760')) |
) |
','Kawano-Little_Flora_C-x600.jpg','c1960s','Self','Double Oban','From my personal collection. Size is 24 x 17 inches.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Dancing Figure (Snow Camellia) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Face (B) L.E. of 150 c1950s |
Kokeshi Doll L.E. of 100 c1950s |
Little Flora (C) L.E. of 300 c1960s |
Little Flora (B) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
','Kawano-Sacred_Crane_Dx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Pencil signed in image, and \'Self Carved, Self Printed\' note on verso. Image size is 9.5 x 22.5 inches, paper size is 12 x 23.5 inches.','660', '550')) |
','Kawano-Small_Birds_LEx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','From my personal collection. Image size is 9 1/4 x 14 3/4 inches.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Tanpotsu_(Short_Hair)-LEx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','From my personal collection. My print does not have an English title written in the margin, however I have another copy with the margin title \'Seed\'. \'Tanpopo\' means dandelion.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Twilight_Cx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Image size is 22-3/8 x 15-1/8 inches. This print was definitely produced prior to 1962, so it probably dates to the late 50s or very early 1960s.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Sacred Crane (D) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Small Bird (B) L.E. of 100 c1950s |
Seed (Tanpopo) L.E. of 100 c1950s |
Twilight (C) L.E. of 100 c. late 1950s |
Woodpeckers L.E. of 50 c1950s |
','Kawano-Quiet_Rain_(B)-x630.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Pencil signed in image, and \'Self Carved, Self Printed\' note on verso. Paper size is 23.8 X 17.9 inches. Image source: eBay.','700', '640')) |
) |
) |
','Kawano-Camellia_H-double-oban-x600.jpg','c1960s','Self','Double Oban','Edition size of 300. Size is 18 x 23 1/2 inches. \'Self-carved self-printed\' washi paper tag attached to the verso. Image source: my personal collection.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Sacred_Crane_E-LE-x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition size of 200 (this one 107/200). Signed \'Kaoru Kawano\' in the bottom margin as well as a pencil signature in the lower left part of the image. Image source: eBay.','700', '640')) |
| Quiet Rain (B) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Hair L.E. of 300 <1963 |
Buddha with Flower L.E. of 300 c1960s |
Camellia (H) L.E. of 300 c1960s |
Sacred Crane (E) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
) |
) |
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) |
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| Winter Mansion L.E. of 50 c1950s |
Kwannon L.E. of 100 c. late 1950s |
Quiet Couple L.E. of 100 c1950s |
Dream L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Quiet Rain L.E. of 100 c1950s |
) |
) |
. Considering there is another print bearing the \'Night Perfume\' title, I believe the \'Spring\' title may be correct. Update 2005 - I\'ve now seen an oban version of this print with a penciled Japanese title \'Umi to Shojyo\' meaning \'Plum and Young Girl\'. Data sources: Zoe Rosen-Kinnard and Tim Tremoni.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Sacred_Crane_C-x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition size of 200. About 24 x 12 inches in size. Pencil signed, titled, and edition numbered in the bottom margin. Data source: eBay.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Gentle Breeze L.E. of 50 c1950s |
Moonlight Night L.E. of 200 c. late 1950s or early 1960s |
Night Perfume (?), or "Plum and Young Girl" L.E. of 100 c. 1950s |
Sacred Crane (C) L.E. of 200 c. 1950s or early 1960s |
Night Perfume L.E. of 100 c. 1950s |
. \'Self-Carved Self-Printed\' tag on verso. Small edition of 50, so I believe this to be one of Kawano\'s earlier designs. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image, and Kawano signature in bottom margin at right (but no Kawano signature within image area). Note: margins are larger than shown in this image. Image source: My personal collection.','840', '750')) |
','Kawano-Nude_No_1-LE-x600.jpg','c. 1950s','Self','Double Oban','\'Self-Carved Self-Printed\' tag on verso. Red Kawano seal and signature at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: eBay.','700', '640')) |
) |
','Kawano-Sacred_Crane_B-LE-x600.jpg','c. 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Red Kawano seal and signature at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: eBay.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Little Flora 花 L.E. of 50 c1950s |
Nude (No. 1) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Doves and Girl 鳩と少女 L.E. of 50 c1950s |
Sacred Crane (B) L.E. of 200 c1950s |
Conversation L.E. of both 50 and 100 c1950s |
) |
','../../Gallery/Kawano/Kawano-Dancing_Figure_Kamuro-01-x800.jpg','c. 1960s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 300 prints, so probably one of Kawano\'s later prints. \'Self-Carved Self-Printed\' tag on verso. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: My personal copy.','840', '750')) |
. Edition of 50 prints, so probably one of Kawano\'s earlier prints. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: Nancy Duguid.','840', '750')) |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_Taki-LE-x800.jpg','c. 1960s','Self','Double Oban','The word \'taki\' means \'waterfall\' or \'cascade\' in English. Edition of 300 prints, so probably one of Kawano\'s later prints. Red Kawano seal and pencil signature at lower left in image area. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: Megan Suslavich.','800', '750')) |
) |
| Long Necks L.E. of 100 c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Kamuro) かむろ L.E. of 300 c1960s |
May むぎ L.E. of 50 c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Taki) 滝 L.E. of 300 c1960s |
Harmony L.E. of 50 c1950s |
','Kawano-Camellia_G-Tsubaki-LE-x800.jpg','c. 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 200 prints. Japanese title is \'Tsubaki\'. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image, and Kawano signature in bottom margin at right. Image source: eBay.','750', '750')) |
. Appears never to have been a \'Self-Carved Self-Printed\' tag attached to this print. Small edition of 100, so I believe this to be one of Kawano\'s earlier designs. Red Kawano seal at lower right within image, and Kawano signature in bottm margin at right. Image source: My personal copy.','800', '750')) |
','Kawano-Camellia_D-LE-01-x800.jpg','c. 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 200 prints, so probably one of Kawano\'s later prints. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: Ohmi Gallery - personal collection.','840', '750')) |
) |
','Kawano-Twilight_D-LE-01-x800.jpg','c. 1960s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 300 prints, so probably one of Kawano\'s later prints. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image. Edition, title and Kawano signature in bottom margin. Image source: Ohmi Gallery - personal collection.','840', '750')) |
| Camellia (G) L.E. of 200 c. 1950s |
On The Grass 草 L.E. of 100 c. 1950s |
Camellia (D) L.E. of 200 c. 1950s |
Temple In Nara L.E. of 100 c. 1950s |
Twilight (D) L.E. of 300 c. 1960s |
) |
) |
) |
','Kawano-Small_Bird_C-x600.jpg','c. 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 100 prints. Japanese title is \'Kotori\'. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image, and Kawano signature in bottom margin at right. Image size 14 x 22 1/2 inches.<br>Image source: Aleksander Rybczynski.','840', '760')) |
) |
| Face L.E. of 100 顔 c. 1950s |
Cross L.E. of 200 十字 c. late 1950s |
Forlorn L.E. of 100 c. late 1950s |
Small Bird (C) L.E. of 100 小鳥 c. 1950s |
Red Candle c. 1950s |
) |
) |
','Kawano-Camellia_I-LE-x800.jpg','c. late 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 200 prints. Kawano signature in bottom margin at right. Image source: eBay.','800', '760')) |
) |
','Kawano-Woodpecker_B-LE-x600.jpg','c. late 1950s','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 200 prints. Red Kawano seal at lower right in image, and Kawano signature in bottom margin at right. About 22 x 15 inches plus full margins. Image source: eBay.','800', '760')) |
| Maria Kwannon L.E. of ? |
Camellia L.E. of 150 |
Camellia (I) L.E. of 200 c. late 1950s |
Three Eyes L.E. of 50 c. early 1950s |
Woodpecker (B) L.E. of 200 c. late 1950s |
','Kawano-Twilight_B-LE-x600.jpg','?','Self','Double Oban','Edition of 100 prints. Red Kawano seal at lower left in image, and Kawano signature in bottom margin at right. Image size 18 x 23.6 inches. Image source: eBay','800', '760')) |
) |
) |
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| Twilight (B) L.E. of 100 |
Shell L.E. of 50 1950s |
Fan L.E. of 150 1950s/60s |
Little Bird L.E. of 50 1950s |
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| Oban Sized Prints (approx. 25 x 35cm, 10 x 16 inches) | ||||
','Kawano-Tanpotsu_(Short_Hair)-oban-x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Tanpopo means \'dandelion\'. See the double-oban limited edition version of this print above.','680', '620')) |
) |
) |
) |
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| Seed (Tanpopo) c1950s |
Unknown Title, Black Gloves c1950s |
Unknown Title, Candle Light c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child And Flower c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child with Flowers and Butterflies c1950s |
) |
','Kawano-DANCING_FIGURE,_Mai_091x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','See the L.E. version above. Image is 15 x 9”','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_(Camellia)x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','See the L.E. version of this print above. Image size 15” x 9”.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_(Snow_Camellia)-allx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Paper size is 11 x 16.75 inches.','700', '640')) |
','Kawano-Ducksx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Papersize: 11.1 x 16.7 inches, image size is 9 1/4 x 14 3/4 inches.','620', '620')) |
| Dream c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Mai Ogi) c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Camellia) c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Snow Camellia) c1950s |
Quiet Couple (Oshidori) c1950s |
) |
) |
) |
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| Moonlight Night c. late 1950s or early 1960s |
Fan c1950s |
Doves and Girl c1950s |
Gentle Breeze c1950s |
Kokeshi doll c1950s |
) |
','Kawano-Small_Birdsx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','See the limited edition version above, and note that is a mirror image of this print. Image is 10 x 15 inches and paper size is 11 x 16 1/2 inches.','700', '640')) |
) |
','Kawano-Tancho_Japanese_cranex600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Sheet size is 10-3/8 x 16 inches.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Unknown Title, Running Rooster c1950s |
Small Bird (B) c1950s |
Unknown Title, Standing Crane c1950s |
Unknown Title, Tancho (Japanese crane) c1950s |
Unknown Title, The Big Owl c1950s |
) |
) |
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','Kawano-Dancing_Figure_(Eshima)-oban-x600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','See the double-oban sized limited edition version of this print above. Image Size 9 1/4 x 14 7/8 inches, plus wide margins.','700', '640')) |
) |
| Unknown Title, Two Girls c1950s |
Unknown Title Two Kittens c1950s |
Three Eyes c1950s |
Dancing Figure (Eshima) c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child and Butterfly c1950s |
\' is from the double-oban limited edition strike (300 prints).','700', '640')) |
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| Dancing Figure (Kamuro) c1960s |
Shell c1950s |
Night Perfume c1950s |
Unknown Title Girl in Shell c1950s |
Unknown Title, Girl Praying c1950s |
) |
) |
) |
, which also has the Japanese title \'Mugi\', meaning \'wheat\'.','620', '600')) |
','Kawano-Unknown,_red_girl_and_birdx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Title taken from the double-oban limited edition version. Image size is 14 1/2 by 9 inches.','700', '640')) |
| Unknown Title, Girl Relaxing c. before 1964 |
Unknown Title Child and Flowers c1950s |
Quiet Rain c1950s |
May c1950s |
Small Bird (C) c1950s |
) |
) |
. See the double-oban limited edition strike above.','620', '620')) |
 penciled on the margin.','650', '620')) |
) |
| Winter Mansion c1950s |
Woodpeckers c1950s |
Camellia c1950s |
Night Perfume, or Plum c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child in Fruit Garden c1950s |
) |
) |
','Kawano-Unknwon,Two_Sacred_Cranesx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Oban','Entire print measures 11 1/4 x 17 inches, with the image area measuring 9 1/4 x 15 inches. See the double-oban limited edition version above.','650', '620')) |
) |
) |
| Unknown Title, Child and Bird c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child Wearing Veil c1950s |
Sacred Crane (C) c1950s |
Conversation c1950s |
Maria Kwannon |
) |
) |
) |
 in colour.','650', '620')) |
) |
| Woodpeckers c1950s |
Unknown Title, Yellow Canary c1950s |
Unknown Title, Child and Mask c1950s |
Little Flora c1950s |
Kwannon c1950s |
) |
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| Twilight C c1950s |
Harmony | Long Necks | Temple In Nara | |
| Smaller Sized | ||||
','The paper measures approximately 8 by 10 inches, where as the area of the actual image measures 4.33 inches by 5.75 inches. Pencil Signed.','680', '620')) |
','Kawano-Two_Owls-postcardx600.jpg','c1950s','Self','postcard','Possibly titled \'Three Eyes\'. Paper size 4 x 6 inches. See the oban-sized print above.','620', '600')) |
','Print measures 4 x 6 inches image only or 9 x 12 inches paper size.','650', '620')) |
','Kawano-Unknown,_Cranex600.jpg','c1950s','Self','Chuban (paper size)','The print measures about 6 x 5 inches plus very large margins. Sealed with the artist\'s red seal.','620', '600')) |
','Kawano-CB-Unknown,_Sacred_Crane-x655.jpg','c1950s','Self','Chuban (paper size)','Printed area is 6 x 4 inches and the paper size is 11 1/8 x 8 1/2 inches. Image source: eBay.','685', '650')) |
| Unknown Title A Kitten (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Two Owls (Postcard) c1950s |
Unknown Title Child and Bird (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Crane (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Sacred Crane (Chuban) c1950s |
','Paper size is 9 1/2 x 6 inches. Image size is 4 1/4 x 5 7/8 inches.','700', '640')) |
','Paper size 8 1/4 x 11 inches, image size aprox 4 3/8 x 6 inches.','650', '620')) |
','The image size is 4 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Red Kaoru seal in bottom margin at right.','650', '620')) |
','Print size: 7 ½ x 10 ½ inches.','620', '600')) |
','Print size: 8 x 10 3/4 inches. Image source: eBay.','650', '620')) |
| Unknown Title Sleeping Child (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Lovebirds (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Child and Fan (Chuban) c1950s |
Unknown Title Child with Birds in Hair (Chuban) c1960s |
Unknown Title Child with Flowers (Chuban) c1960s |
','Paper size: 8 x 10 inches. Image source: eBay.','620', '670')) |
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| Unknown Title Child and Candle (Chuban) c1950s |
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