Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (777)

Kawase Hasui
Postal Life Insurance Office
Date: ca. 1930s/1940s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Hasui seal at lower right.
Rare genuine woodblock-printed postcard.
Condition: Front is excellent. Verso has residue at top corners.

Koichi Okumura (1904 ~ 1974)
Red Mt. Fuji from Shojin Lake
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10 inches.
Date: 1948. First edition.
Publisher: Unsodo.
Carver: Nagashima. Printer: Shinmi.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)
Misty Evening at Shinobazu Pond
Date: 1932.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition. Watanabe sausage seal (in use 1929-42).
Shiro seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Faint matte line near image edge. Pinhole at margin edge. Light toning and fading.

Kawase Hasui
Moon at Itako (Country House)
Date: 1945. ("Sendai Japan, Christmas 1945")
Size: 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Medium: Lithograph.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: There is an oban version of Moon at Itako dated 1936.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Snow on Willow Bridge
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1927.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. With Watanabe C seal (Used 1929-42).
Shoson signature and seal.
Reference: S44.3 and image #166 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A conservator has repaired top margin blanks and tears. One had impinged on the image...

Kawase Hasui
Mitsutoge (Fuji in Mist)
Date: 1945. ("Sendai Japan, Christmas 1945")
Size: 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Medium: Lithograph.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: An uncatalogued koban-sized woodblock version of this print exists.

Urushibara Mokuchu (Yoshijiro) (1888-1953)
Horse (Facing Upward)
Date: ca. 1940s.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.75 x 10.75 inches.
Signed "Y. Urushibara" in pencil.
Sealed "Mokuchu".
Round watermark at top margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Removed from original folder.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Tansui (Danshui, China)
Date: 1941.
Print size: Chuban. 10.625 x 8 inches.
Brush signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil in lower margin.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating a first edition self-printed by the artist.
Publisher: Hiroshi Yoshida
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe catalog #244.
Condition: Some toning and fading. Tape at top back margin.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Blue Bird on Plum Branch
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 9.625 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso).
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue. Point-sized dot in sky.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Fireworks at Ryogoku
Size: Mitsugiriban. 14.875 x 6.625 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Shotei catalog M-51.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print. Attached at top edge only to original card.
Condition: A little waviness at lower right. Slight fading.
Provenance: Dedication on back reads, "With best of wishes from (Rabbi) Jacob J...

Funazaki Kojiro (b. 1900)
Eboshi Rock in Kaiba Island
From the collection, "One Hundred New Views of Japan"
Size: Approximately 11.75 x 8.75 inches.
Date: 1940.
Limited edition of 150.
Block bears the Kojiro signature and title.
Publisher: Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japan Print Association)
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Trimmed margins.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Kyoto Kitano
Size: 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Takemura seal at lower left.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu's Shinsei seal at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-120.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Rough left margin.
Note: Unlike the catalog example, this one is titled in the image.

City in the Rain (after Hasui)
(A rare alternative perspective on "City in the Rain" by Kawase Hasui).
Artist: Not known.
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.625 inches
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Fireworks, Shubinomatsu
Size: Mitsugiriban. 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Sealed and titled in the image.
Reference: Shotei catalog M-23. Watanabe #222, Ota-ku #195
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back edge has paper residue.

Nishimura Hodo
Rabbits in Grass
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.25 x 3.375 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seal at lower right.
Signed Hodo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back has a spot of foxing.

Ohara Koson
Eight white-fronted geese in flight, a full moon behind
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: 1920s-30s.
Reference: K11.10 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya/Adachi.
Koson signature at lower left.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent.
Provenance: The estate of Robert O. Muller.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)(1871-1945)
Shrine in the woods; blue Sky
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Shotei seal at lower right.
Date: Pre-1936.
Reference: Shotei catalog #S-38.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print in postcard form.
Condition: Mark near upper right edge.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Teahouse in the Night
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.625 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Artist's seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 564 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-57 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Eagle Perched on a Cliff
Artist: Not Known.
Date: ca 1930s.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Size: Approximately 8.5 x 3.75 inches
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller Estate.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Original white kento mark at the lower right corner.

Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971)
Five Kinds of Sleigh - Akita Prefecture
Date: 1932.
Image size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches.
Prints are tipped along top edge to 9.5 x 7.0 card.
Folder included.
1. Hako Sori (Box Sleigh), 2. Naga Sori (Long Sleigh), 3. Uma Sori (Horse Sleigh), 4. Kazu Sori (Kazu Sleigh), 5...

Artist's black signature not read
Lake Biwa
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.625 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Eisho Narazaki (1862-1936)
Interior of Asakusa Kannon Temple
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Date: 1932
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe C seal at left margin, indicating a first edition printed 1929-42.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned paper.
There is so much to look at in this lively, superbly printed image.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Spring Evening
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 14.75 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Shotei seal at right.
Reference: Shotei #M-12. Watanabe #212.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Top back margin has paper residue.

Kawase Hasui
Boats at Night
Date: 1930s.
Print size: 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso bottom margin.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-21
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along top edge only to 7.75 x 5.25-inch original card.
Condition: Excellent.

Ueno Shinobazu Pond
Artist not known. (View is similar to a larger one by Kasamatsu).
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.625 x 3.625 inches
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Yoshimoto Gesso
Cherry Blossoms
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 10 x 5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso)
Artist's signature lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top edge has paper residue.

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
Noh Actor Shigeyama in Green Costume
Date: 1935-36.
Size: Approximately 19.5 x 13.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Signed "Elizabeth Keith" in pencil.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Notch in lower margin. Tape residue at left, bottom left, and top back margins.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Asakusa Temple (Sensoji) Main Gate
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Round Takemura seal lower right.
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.5 x 3.625 inches.
Title and Koitsu's Kiyoshi seal at left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-136.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971)
Snow Hut (Yuki Muro)
Date: 1932
Bears the round "Toku" seal. Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Condition: Excellent. Unframed.
Katsuhira Tokushi was a true folk artist, as he grew up in rural Akita Prefecture without encountering other artists and their work.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Evening Glow at Sakawa Bridge
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.25 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-9 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Very good. Upper left corner has crease.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Hirosaki Castle
Series: Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms
Date: 1935.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating a first edition self-printed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe catalog #192.
Condition: Pencil note at top margin. Paper lightly toned.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Edogawa (Edo River)
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Seals on front and back.
Sealed by Koitsu at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-68
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Jinbo Tomoyo (1902-1994)
Pensive Girl
Date: 1939.
Size: 16.5 x 11.25 inches.
Edition: First and only.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Edition: 56 of 100. Hand numbered in Japanese on back beside one hundred limitation seal.
Artist's red seal on back with date and seals of carver (Ishizaka Kenichi) and printer (Nakamura Sanjiro).
Mica highlights on hair ornaments.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Abrasion at index finger area...

Ohara Hoson (Koson)
Carp jumping for insect, wisteria above
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.625 x 10.75 inches.
Date: 1931.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Publisher's seal in right margin...

Artist: Yamamoto (seal)
Gotemba in Snow
Bears artist's seal.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Bears round Takemura seal.
Date: 1930s. Collected after WWII but very likely from Takemura's pre-war stock.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Tipped at top to original greeting card.
Condition: Print is very good. Card is discolored.

(After) Imanaka Soyu (1886-1959)
Pheasant
Dated August 13th, 1936.
Size: 7.5 x 5.375 inches (19 x 13.6 cm).
A cover of a menu of the Nippon Yusen Line passenger ship, Chichibu Maru.
Publisher: Likely Nippon Mokuhan Co. Tokio (Japan Woodblock Co. Tokyo), who produced another of our ship menu woodblock prints.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print after a Soyu painting...