Special Selection - Limited Time - 20th Century Japanese Prints

In the late 19th century the Western world 'discovered' Ukiyo-e, a bright and lively style of Japanese art that soon became immensely popular in Europe and the Americas. Just as the west was falling in love with these beautiful prints, traditional woodblock print-making in Japan was suffering a decline. In 1915, Japanese art expert Arthur Davison Ficke declared the art of Ukiyo-e 'completely dead'. "It is idle to hope that real vitality will ever return to animate this lost art." However much this might have been true in 1915, within a decade of Ficke's prediction high quality woodblock printing was reintroduced by artists including Yoshida, Shinsui, Koson, Hasui, Goyo, and Kotondo. This generation incorporated a somewhat-Western style with traditional Japanese techniques, giving birth to the Shin Hanga, or "new prints". Shin Hanga artists returned to the same subjects that had moved the great Ukiyo-e pioneers such as Hiroshige, Hokusai and Utamaro: landscapes, beautiful women and nature studies. One of the defining, and finest, features of Shin Hanga is the highly refined printing techniques used, and Hiroshi Yoshida, in particular, built upon and improved the older techniques. Using dozens upon dozens of wood blocks, he created incredible subtleties of shadings and printing such as has not been seen before or since. All prints oban size (approx 10" X 16") unless otherwise noted. Oversized prints will be subject to an additional shipping charge, otherwise see conditions of sales.

Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) 1. Fuji at Sunrise (Fujiyama - 1st light of the Sun - Sunrise) - 1926 In pencil: 'Fujiyama Early Morning' + artist's signature Publisher: "Jizuri" (Self printed) Double oban. Very good impression and colors with jizuri (self printed) seal. $7700

Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) 108. Tokugawa Peony Garden (Tokugawa Peony Garden at Ochiai) 1928 Publisher: "Jizuri" (Self printed) In pencil: Tokugawa Peony Garden + artist's signature Very good condition. . Printed on silk. $1150

Koson (1877-1945) 80. Geese in Flight Signed: Shoson c 1920s Very good impression, colors, and condition $900

Torii Kotondo (1900-1976) 6. Yoro no Ume (Japanese Plum Tree in the Night) 1934 Very good impression and colors. 2 wormholes otherwise generally very good condition. First edition: Number 3 out of edition of 72 $5000

Kawase Hasui (1833-1957) 8. Fuji in Fine Weather (Fuji, Clearing after a Snowfall in Oshiono - 1952) Signed: Hasui; Sealed: Kawafe Publisher: Watanabe (1st edition - seal: a) Dai-oban (c19 1/2" X 14 3/8"). Very good impression, colors and condition. $3250.

Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) 225. Glimpse of Ueno Park - 1937 In pencil: Glimpse of Ueno Park + artist's signature Publisher: "Jizuri" (Self printed) Good impression and colors with jizuri (self printed) seal. $1050

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995) 37. White Wall Signed in pencil: 'White Wall' + artist's signature Jikoku (self-carved) c 1960s Very good impression and colors. $sold

Other 20th Century Prints: 1  |  2 | 3  |

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