Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (780)

Ohara Shoson (Koson) (1877~1945)
Rabbits under bush clover and full moon.
Date: 1931.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe C (sausage) seal, which was in use between 1929-1942 and is consistent with a first/early edition.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15 x 10 inches.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Reference: S41.7 in Crows, Cranes & Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Miyajima Torii at Night
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban postcard. Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-52 (W-899).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Unused.

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898 - 1991)
The Great Lantern at Asakusa Kannon
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Date: 1934. First edition. Bears the Watanabe D seal (used 1931-1941).
Size: Oban, approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very Good. Light wear and soft crease at left. Corner margin chip.

Ohara Koson
Barn swallow in flight above water with large waves
Size: O-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Reference: K28.8 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Publisher: Daikokuya
Signed and sealed by the artist.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Light foxing.
Embossed waves and splashes in this lively design.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Kozu, Osaka
Souvenirs of Travels, Third Series.
Date: 1924.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.50 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe C seal at right margin, indicating printing between 1929 and 1942.
Reference: Hotei #118.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Lovely mauve horizon...

Kawase Hasui
Rain at Shuzenji Hot Spring
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1933
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe "E seal" used between 1932-42 and consistent with a first edition.
Condition: Excellent with slight fading.

Arai Yoshimune
Snow in Wakanoura Bay
Date 1930s.
Size: Chuban. 10.25 x 7.75 inches.
Sealed by the artist at lower left.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at right margin and back
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very faint foxing in sky. Back top corners have mounting residue.

Kawase Hasui
Terajima in the Snow
Date: 1930s.
Image size: 6 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-69.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Hasui seal at lower left.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to original 1930s card.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870 - 1949)
Ueno Shinobazu Pond
Date: 1939. First edition.
Size: Oban. Approximately 17 x 11.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Sadaichi.
Carver: Kataoka. Printer: Yokoi.
Koitsu catalog no. TK-DH-58
Condition: Tape residue at top margin. Pencil note on back.
This rare first edition features differently printed clouds than in later examples. There are gofun highlights throughout the print.

Hiroshi Yoshida
No. 3 Cave Temple in Ellora
By Courtesy of Archaeological Department, Hyderabad
Indian and Southeast Asia Series
Date: 1932.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image...

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Three Red Carp, water plant above
Size: Yoko o-tanzaku. Approximately 15.25 x 6.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1920s-1930s. "Paris, August 1939" noted in pencil on the verso in French.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: S39.3 and Watanabe W36-571 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Yaizugahara
Date: 1937
Size: Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Doi
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-113.
Bears the Koitsu seal and the Doi seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei
Drawing up seawater under moonlight.
The figures are engaged in saltmaking, likely at Suma Beach
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at left.
Reference: S-50 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil notes on back.

Kawase Hasui
Great Buddha, Kamakura (Hase Daibutsu)
Date: 1930s.
Size: 5.875 x 3.75 inches.
Hasui oval seal at lower right.
Reference: Hotei Hp-53
Condition: Back of print has paper residue at top.

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
Chinese Matriarch, Soochow
Date: 1934.
Sheet size: 17.625 x 13.625 inches. Image size: 13.25 x 11.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Signed and titled in pencil by the artist.
Medium: Colored etching.
Provenance: Henry McBride collection.
Condition: Upper right corner margin crease...

Kawase Hasui
Lake Shoji
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.875 x 5.25 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hp-14.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil note on back.

Artist: This signature has been read "Choka" or "Akiyo". These prints are sometimes attributed to Nishimura Hodo.
Boat On a River at Night
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Red Takemura seal at lower left
Size: 10.0 x 7.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Scuff at upper right. Small smudge on mountain.
- A rare print similar to Shoda Koho's Hasegawa night scene, "Country Scene with Moon".

Arai Yoshimune
Suma Beach
The figures carrying pails are making salt.
Date 1930s.
Size: Oban. 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Unsigned.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at left margin and back.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso. Marked #103.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toning. Faint surface scuff on beach. Upper right margin corner crease. Back corners have mounting residue.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Kuon Temple at Mt. Minobu
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1930.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe D seal at right margin, indicating printing between 1931 and 1942.
Reference: Hotei #198a.
Condition: Very faint tone line at upper right corner.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Spring Snow
Size: Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. No. 244 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-35 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: A few faint spots on the back and very slight toning.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
A Long Spell of Rain
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Reference: Koitsu catalog no. TK-TM-060.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. A couple of scuffs and a very light crease near top.

Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950)
A Calm Day, 1930 from Inland Sea, Second Series.
Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 11.0 inches.
First edition bearing the large black jizuri seal, indicating self-printing by the artist.
Pencil signed and titled.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shoda Koho
Ohashi Bridge at Atako.
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series (No. 1253).
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7.25 inches.
Date: 1910-38.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Sealed by the artist. "Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Slight bend at upper right corner.

Kawase Hasui
Sacred Mount Fuji
Date: 1936.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.25 x 4.875 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui oval seal at lower right.
Reference: Hotei #Hb-s12
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back top corners have tape remnants.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Kamogawa in Kyoto (The Kamo River)
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 10.75 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.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe catalog #186.
Condition: Light toning and fading. Top margin corners are thin...

Kawase Hasui
Sailboat at Yashima
Date: 1930s
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-82.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso. Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very slight toning.

Ohara Koson
Crow on Cherry Branch
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Reference: page 175 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated. One pencil point-sized dot in sky.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.

Kawase Hasui
Farmhouse in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
A woodblock print tipped along its top edge to an original blank holiday card.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Snow at Koshigaya
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.375 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1935. First edition.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Publisher's "E seal" (used 1932-42) in right margin.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #353
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning. Bump at tip of lower left margin corner.

Ito Yuhan
Watercolor Painting
Depicting a footbridge above a waterfall.
Date: 1930s.
Size: 13.25 x 9.75 inches.
Signed "Y. Ito" at lower left
Condition: Brilliant color. The top back has paper residue. A couple of very faint foxing marks in upper left corner.
Ito Yuhan is known for his woodblock prints that have a watercolor-like appearance.

Ohara Koson
Crow on Snowy Bough
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Unsigned as originally issued.
Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi).
Reference: #48b on page 72 of Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on back.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Shiba Zojoji Temple
Date: 1930s. First and only edition.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 11.5 x 7.75 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Takemura seal at lower right. H. Takemura stamp on verso.
Koitsu's "kiyoshi" seal at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-71.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back corners have residue.
This very rare print features beautifully embossed snow.

Ito Yuhan
Lantern in Pond
Date: 1930s. A pre-war or early postwar edition.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at left margin.
Artist's signature at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Paul Jacoulet
Hokkan-zan, Seoul, Coree (Hokkan Mountains, Seoul, Korea)
Date: December 6, 1937.
Size: Approximately 18.25 x 14 inches.
Jacoulet signature and watermark with tea jar seal.
Edition: 144/350.
Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: Print #45 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles
Condition: Excellent color and condition. The back margin edges are toned. The back top margin has three pieces of archival tape.

Kawase Hasui
Bridge with Sailboat
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-25.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Ishizue, Niigata
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Date: 1934.
This edition 1930s.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Bears the oval Hasui seal.
Reference: Hotei #352.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Provenance: The Robert O. Muller estate.
Condition: Excellent. Uncirculated.

Kawase Hasui
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province, 1934.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the D seal, indicating a first edition.
Size: Oban, Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Excellent with nearly invisible tone line near left margin.
A magnificent rare print.

Kawase Hasui
Evening View of a Village
Date: 1930s
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamp on verso.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-67.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Drying pinhole at upper right corner margin.

Kawase Hasui
Moon at Itako
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Date: ca. 1936.
Hasui produced a thematically similar oban-sized greyscale print of the same title in 1936.
Hasui oval seal at lower left.
Condition: Right margin corners have two original pinholes. There is a much smaller pinhole just at the top right corner within the image that can be seen when the print is held to light.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.

Kawase Hasui
The Great Buddha, Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu)
Date: 1930.
Pre-war edition.
Size: Oban. Margins trimmed. Approximately 14.375 x 9.5 inches.
Reference: Hotei #204a.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margins trimmed. Fading.

Kawase Hasui
Springtime Forest
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.875 x 5.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-18.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Katada in Ohmi
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Hasui oval seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Festival
Date: 1930s. First and only edition.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.0 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo. Takemura seal at lower left. H. Takemura stamp on verso.
Koitsu's "Shinsei" seal at lower right.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-67.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Top back corners have some thinning.

Saito Hodo (aka Nishimura Hodo)
Two women walking on a spring night
Date: 1920s-1930s.
Size: Oban. 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo (label on back).
Signed "H. Saito" by the artist.
Medium: Japanese watercolor.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Paintings and woodblock prints variously signed "H. Saito" (Saito Hodo) and "Nishimura Hodo" were published by Takemura Hideo. They are very likely by the same artist...

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Onomichi Saikokuji, December 1935
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 16.0 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-10
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Wavy crease and and light foxing.

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)
Little Pavilion, Peking, 1935.
(aka. Little Pavilion, Coal Hill, Peking)
Size: Approximately 14.75 x 9.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Condition: Excellent with a couple of very faint creases. Title noted in pencil on back.

Shoda Koho
Moonlit Sea
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7 inches.
Date: 1910-1938.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku.
An early marginless edition as originally issued.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Two thin surface scratches - lower left and top. Top back corners have paper residue. Two small surface marks in water near right horizon.

Shoda Koho
Black Cat at Night
Date: 1930s.
Size: Tanzaku 13.25 x 3.125 inches.
Publisher: Hasegawa/Nishinomiya Yosaku (stamp on verso)
Artist's seal at lower right.
Reference: No. 1602
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Two sparrows next to a snow-covered nandin bush
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Shoson seal lower left.
Reference: AS.21 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Narazaki Eisho (1864-1936) (aka. Kyokudo, Fuyo, Shinjo)
Futagawa in Snow (Futagawa no Yuki)
Date: Early 20th century.
Size: Approximately 7.25 x 5.25 inches.
Signed and sealed "Kyokudo".
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
A very rare creped print.
Condition: Unframed. Excellent.
The uneven margin is due to the creping process.

Hiroshige Ando
Fisher and Fire
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Date: 1930s.
Size: 6 x 4.125 inches.
Signature and seal at lower right.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Temple in Snow
Date: ca 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Size: 7.25 x 5.0 inches.
Condition: Excellent. Tipped at top edge to original sheet.
This print does not appear in Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints. We could find only one other example.

Kawase Hasui
Seascape
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Torii Gate in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Image size: Koban. Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Condition: Excellent. Tipped at top and bottom to original cardstock.

Kawase Hasui
Zaimoku Island, Matsushima
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-26.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print
Condition: Excellent.
A rarely seen design.

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)
Shower of Cherry Blossoms at Kanbayashi Hotspring, Shinshu
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
First edition. Watanabe sausage seal (in use 1929-42).
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Never displayed.

Kawase Hasui
A Yangban (Korean Official)
Date: August 1935 (First and only edition)
Size: Dai-oban. Approximately 17 x 12 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei #357.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Twilight in Suzukawa
Publisher: Takemura
Date: 1930s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.5 inches.
Koitsu's "Kiyoshi" seal at lower right. Takemura publisher's seal at left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-75.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light foxing has been cleaned and stabilized. Repairs to paper thinning in sky. Two pinholes at top corners of image.

Paul Jacoulet
Une Belle De Palaos (A Beauty of Palao)
Date: November 4, 1935.
Edition: No. 291/350. Fewer than 275 impressions made.
Size: 18.5 x 14 inches.
Mandarin duck seal. Carver: Maeda. Printer: Honda.
Reference: No. 30 in The Prints of Paul Jacoulet by Richard Miles.
Condition: Excellent.
Note: Miles writes, "This was conceived and printed as a pair with No...

Kawase Hasui
Chuzenji, Utagahama
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban postcard. Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Reference: Hotei #Hp-50 (W-900).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light crease near bottom of torii. Unused.