Ken Kuroi Lithograph "Walking on the Hill" - "Buying Mittens" Korowan Series

This is a lithograph titled Oka o Iku (Going Over the Hill) by Ken Kuroi, a picture book author famous for Tebukuro o Kai ni (To Buy Mittens), Gon Gitsune (Gon the Little Fox), and the Korowan series.
He is a renowned author whose works are often featured in Japanese language textbooks.

Ken Kuroi (born 1947) is a Japanese picture book author and illustrator. He was born in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, and attended Kagami-buchi Elementary School in Niigata.

He resides in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Secondary Education, Faculty of Education, Niigata University. He is a member of the Japan Association of Children's Book Illustrators. After working in the children's book editorial department at Gakken Plus, he became a freelance artist. In May 2003, the Ken Kuroi Picture Book House opened. In September 2010, he was appointed Honorary Director of the Children's Library at the Niigata City Central Library.

He is known for his unique and delicate style using colored pencils. In 1983, he received the 9th Sanrio Art Prize. In 2006, he won the 20th Akai Tori Illustration Prize for Matatabi Travel (by Kumiko Moichi).

Size:
* Frame: Height 55 cm x Width approx. 43 cm
* Mat opening: Height 47 cm x Width approx. 28 cm
Serial number: 360/800

The artwork itself is in perfect condition, but there is some slight dirt on the back of the frame (please refer to the photo).