URUSHIBARA Mokuchu (Yoshijiro) 1888-1953

Stonehenge in the Moonlight. c.1910-1920

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Ken Koshino.

ōban yoko-e, 37.4 cm × 25.1 cm

Very good impression, colour and condition.

This colour woodblock print of Stonehenge in moonlight was one of a pair (the other shows Stonehenge in daylight) produced from many of the same blocks (betsuzuri). This scene has an extra block for the moon, while the daytime scene has the addition of a shepherd and his dog herding his sheep in the foreground, and a flock of birds in the sky. The combination of the Japanese technique and Urushibara’s artistic heritage give these views of Stonehenge a distinctive look. A rare print. Signed and sealed.  Published by Ken Hoshino & Co. 57-58 Chancerey Lane W.C. 

Reference. Masterpieces of the British Museum.

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MAEDA Masao.. (1904-1974)

Seascape. c.1950

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Self-printed.

large dai-oban yoko-e, 41.7 cm × 28.8 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

An atmospheric seascape by the celebrated sosaku-hanga artist Masao Maeda. A rare print.

Artist's seal Ma at the bottom left. Kaneko collectors seal in the lower left corner.

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HASUI Kawase. (1883-1952)

Lakeside Shower at Matsue. 1932.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shôzaburô. C Seal.

oban yoko-e, 39.2 cm × 26.3 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

A fisherman hurries for shelter under a large deciduous tree, as rain breaks out on the shore of Lake Shinji-ko. The low grey clouds are typical on the coast of Japanese lakes. The sheets of rain are created using the baren, a bamboo pad used in the print-making process to apply colour.

Signed Hasui, seal Kawase. C Watanabe 'sausage' seal in the right margin.

£1750

YOSHIDA Hiroshi (1876-1950)

Ikenohata. 1937.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Self-printed. "Jizuri" seal.

ōban yoko-e, 40.5 cm × 27.1 cm

Excellent impression and colour. Printing creases in both margins, light mounting remnants au verso, otherwise very good condition.

Lake Ueno in high tide, with a reflection of the shrine on the water's surface. In the background, a five tier pagoda emerges in the hazy evening light. This print shows Yoshida's masterly use of colour, with a multitude of blocks used to produce the blue and grey hues. The trees are portrayed with at least four different shades of blue. Signed Yoshida, with red artist's seal Hiroshi. Jiizuri seal at upper left margin, followed by the date, Showa juninen saku (made in Showa 12, 1937

£1280

HASUI Kawase. (1883-1952)

Daibutsuden in Nara. 1950.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shozaburo. Seal: Hasui

oban tate-e, 26.4 cm × 39.2 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition. One drying hole.

A late shin-hanga landscape from one of the undisputed masters in this field. Unlike his contemporary, the well travelled Hiroshi Yoshida, Hasui chose to depict the beauty of his homeland, with the notable exception of Korea. In this landscape, two women with blue and orange parasols stroll by Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) in the gentle rain. Signed Hasui with seal. Date and work title in the left margin.

£1100

GOYO Hashiguchi (1880-1921)

Crescent Moon over Kôbe. Kôbe no yoizuki. 1920.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Printed by Somekawa Kanzo.

large dai-oban, 47.8 cm × 30.3 cm

Excellent, early impression and colour. Margins trimmed, very slight toning, otherwise very good condition.

Hashiguchi Goyō is known primarily for his bijin-e (pictures of beautiful women), but created four magnificent landscape designs from 1918. In this 1920 design, the influence of Hiroshige (Autumn Moon over Tama River) is evident.

Dated Taisho 9, (1920) January. Goyō seal below signature, Goyō ga. Rare lifetime edition with Goyo limitation seal "Toku dai ichi gō" Special No.1 au verso. Illustrated in Fresh Impressions 'Early Modern Japanese Prints' Pg. 77.

£3000

HIROSHIGE II (1826-1869)

Field of Bellflowers in Shinano Province. 1860

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Series

One hundred famous views in the Provinces.

Publisher

Uoei.

oban tate-e, 24.5 cm × 36.7 cm

Excellent impression of the first deluxe state, with strong woodgrain, overprinting and embellished with mica. Excellent colour and condition.

The Kikyo Plain in Shinano Province with numerous visitors strolling and picnicking on blankets amongst the bellflowers in full bloom. Signed Hiroshige ga. Reference: Strange 1925, p. 193, no.35

£2200

Tsuruta Goro. 1890 - 1969

Fishermen at Kujūkuri

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Kato Junji

large oban Yoko-e, 42.0 cm × 31.0 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

Fishermen at Kujūkuri (Kujūkuri no gyofu); a group of muscular naked men pulling a large wooden ship from the shore out to sea, on Kujūkuri beach in the Chiba prefecture. Signed Goro, and published in Autumn 1936. Reference. Waves of Renewal. Hotei Publishing, Plate 144.

£1250

HASUI Kawase. (1883-1952)

Lake Kawaguchi. c.1941

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shôzaburô. F Seal (1934-1941)

oban tate-e, 26.0 cm × 38.0 cm

Superb impression with strong visible woodgrain. Excellent colour. Very faint remnants of 'H.Kawase' in pen, lower right, otherwise very good condition.

Mount Fuji seen from Oishi park on Lake Kawaguchi, the second largest of the "Five Fuji Lakes". The view is dominated by five maize plants (zea mays), a design that recalls Hiroshige's Iris at Horikiri from One-hundred Views of Edo. A seldom seen design. Watanabe D seal 1931-1941, signed and sealed Hasui.

£1450

Kawase HASUI (1883-1957)

Heirin Temple, Nobidome. 1952.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shōzaburō.

oban, 28.0 cm × 39.0 cm

Excellent impression and colour. Very good condition.

The shaded courtyard of the Heirin Temple is dappled with sunshine (the effect further enhanced by vigorous baren marks). The grounds are known for their maple trees and we can see the foliage turning to autumnal orange in the background. Signed Hasui with Hasui seal. Work date and title in the left margin with Watanabe 6mm seal.

£620

Kasamatsu Shirô. (1898-1991)

Shuzenji Hot Springs.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shôzaburô.

we, 27.0 cm × 40.0 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

A muted study of the Shuzenji hot springs (Shuzenji onsen), with two silhouettes against the subtle yellow glow of the indoor light. Published by Watanabe Shōzaburō in spring 1937, with the D Watanabe seal lower right and the red Shirō seal within the image. 

£1250

Kasamatsu Shirô. (1898-1991)

Pagoda in Rain at Nightfall, Yanaka, Tokyo.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shôzaburô.

oban tate-e, 12.0 cm × 12.0 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

Pagoda in Rain at Nightfall, Yanaka, Tokyo (Ame ni kureru to), signed Shiro with oval artist's seal Shiro, publisher's seal on the right-hand margin, Hanken shoyu Watanabe Shozaburo (Copyright ownership Watanabe Shozaburo), the title on the left-hand margin followed by the date, Showa yonnen banshun (Showa 7, 1932, late spring)

£1800

Kasamatsu Shirô. (1898-1991)

Moonrise At Nezu Gongen Shrine

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shozoburo

oban tate-e, 26.0 cm × 38.0 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition.

Moonrise at Nezu Gongen Shrine in Tokyo. Tsuki no de Nezu Gongen, signed Shiro with oval artist's seal Shiro, publisher's seal on the right-hand margin, Hanken shoyu Watanabe Shozaburo (Copyright ownership Watanabe Shozaburo), the title on the left-hand margin followed by the date, Showa yonnen banshun (Showa 7/1932, late spring)

£1600

HIROSHIGE Utagawa (1797-1859)

Asuka-yama. 1858.

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Series

Thirty-six Views of Fuji. Fuji Sanji Rokkei.

Publisher

Tsutaya.

oban tate-e, 24.8 cm × 36.2 cm

Very good impression, colour and condition. Slightly trimmed.

Asuka-yama (Asuka Hill) to the north of Edo was the first public park opened in 1737 by the shogun, Yoshimune. Hundreds of cherry trees were planted to create a pleasant place for outings and a respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city. A group of people are enjoying hanami (cherry blossom viewing) on a bright spring day. Just beyond the slope, a procession of merchant ladies with blue parasols climb the hill after visiting one of the teahouses. The parasols were called aodosa and were made with thick, light blue paper called kochi. Not only would they offer protection from the sunlight, but the blue paper would make the pale faces of the ladies appear even more delicate. Signed Hiroshige ga.

£1650

KŌGYO Tsukioka. (1867-1927)

Ships at night. c.1900

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya)

shikishiban, 25.4 cm × 24.0 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition. Full size. An especially beautiful printing of this design.

The silhouettes of three moored ships. The night sky is illuminated by a fire in the distance. Signed Kōgyo

Literature: Plate 106 Pg.151 The Beauty of Silence. Hotei Publishing.  IBSN 9789004193857.

£200

SHŌTEI Takahashi. (Hiroaki). (1871-1945)

Sawatari in Joshu District. c.1924-36

Category

Japanese | Landscape

Publisher

Watanabe Shôzaburô.

mitsugiri-ban, 17.4 cm × 38.3 cm

Excellent impression, colour and condition. Minimal toning.

A man returns home in the snow wearing a thick straw coat, followed by his two dogs. Shôtei draws six birds in flight against the expanse of grey sky, using the narrow mitsugiri-ban format to great effect. There are roughly 140 designs by Shotei in this format. 

The print title to the lower left hand side reads Joshu Sawatari, followed by the artist's L seal 'Shotei'.

£450