Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (752)

Shin-Bijutsukai Japanese Design Magazine, vol. 28
Compiled by artist Furuya Korin (1875–1910).
A monthly magazine (1902-06) featuring the work of talented design artists.
First published 1905...

Children on Stilts in Snow
Artist's seal not read.
Date: 1950s-60s.
Size: 4.75 x 3.25 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to original card.
Condition: Excellent.

Ide Gakusui
Bamboo Grove
Size: 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: 1950s-60s.
Gakusui seal lower left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Woodblock print is tipped along its top edge to a blank card.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Dancing Girls Enjoying Cool Breeze On River Kamo
Date: 1919.
Size: Approximately 7 x 4.5 inches.
Hasui signature and seal at lower right.
Publisher: Yoshusha.
Edition: First.
This marginless print was issued as seen here tipped along its top edge into the 1919 first edition book, "Sights of Old Capital" by Aisaburo Akiyama...

Kawase Hasui
Sacred Bridge, Nikko
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950s-60s.
Size: 6 x 4 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print tipped along its top edge to an original blank card.
Reference: Hotei Hp-40.
Condition: Excellent.

Chiura Obata
Rainbow Falls, Inyo National Forest
Series: World Landscape Series - America.
Date: 1930.
Size: 17.5 by 13 inches.
Publisher: Takamizawa Color-Print Studio, Tokyo.
Medium: Woodblock print.
Condition: A conservator has reconstructed missing paper of the upper right corner margin. Other margin edge tears and losses repaired. Toned paper.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Snow at Nezu Gongen Shrine
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower left, indicating a lifetime edition produced between 1946 and 1957.
Reference: Hotei #345.
Condition: Slight toning as seen in margin. Tape residue at top back margin.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Plum Gateway
Date: 1935.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.875 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil.
Jizuri seal at left margin indicating a first edition self-printed by the artist.
Self-published by the artist.
H. Takemura & Co. label on back.
Reference: Abe catalog #205.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light toning as seen in margin. Tear repair at upper left corner margin...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Wisteria Garden
Date: 1935. This edition mid-century.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in Japanese in the image. Titled and signed in English at lower margin.
Reference: Abe catalog #199.
Condition: Excellent. Two original pinholes at top margin.

Biho Takahashi (Yoshikuni) (1873-)
Bee and Pink Hollyhock
Date: 1900-1910.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.75 x 9.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Chipped corner and light creasing.

Biho Takahashi (Yoshikuni) (1873-)
Butterflies and Blooming Mustard
Date: 1900-1910.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.75 x 9.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Left and right edges bumped and slightly toned.

Okuhara Seiko (1837-1918; female)
Cherry Blossoms Under the Full Moon
Date: 1900s-1910s
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Unsigned. Signed examples exist.
Size: Shikishiban. Approximately 9.75 x 9.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight toning. Left and right edges bumped.

Ohara Koson
Eagle watching small bird (Eagle with outspread wings)
This example has a Matsumoto Print Works tag on the back (#105). The ca. 1910 Matsumoto catalog lists the print as "Eagle on a Tree."
Size: Ko-tanzaku. Approximately 7.75 x 3.75 inches.
Date: ca. 1900s-1923.
Koson seal at lower right.
References: Matsumoto #105...

Hiroshi Yoshida
Horse Turnback (Umagaeshi)
Series: Ten Views of Mt. Fuji
Date: 1928.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.25 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image and lower margin.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating self-printing by the artist.
Published by the artist.
Reference: Abe #52.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin has light toning and creasing.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Bamboo Wood
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.25 x 11 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image and lower margin.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating self-printing by the artist.
Published by the artist.
Reference: Abe #229.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margin has light toning and creasing.
- Depicts a scene in Saitama Prefecture.

Kawase Hasui
Spring Rain at Gokokuji
Size: Oban. Approximately 16 x 10.75 inches.
Date: 1932.
This edition 1948-50.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Katsumura (same carver as first edition). Printer: Ito.
Doi publisher's watermark at upper left corner margin.
Artist's signature and seal at upper right.
Condition: A surface dot on the base of the lantern. A few light margin creases...

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Linnoji Garden
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.75 x 8.25 inches.
Date: 1941.
Later edition (ca. 1970s-1980s) with impressed pencil signature.
Artist's jikoku (self-carved) seal.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Very faint toning visible in margin.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Iidabashi, Daytime in Tokyo
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 8.0 inches.
Date: 1940.
Later edition (ca. 1970s-1980s) with impressed pencil signature.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Faint toning visible in margin.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Peddler in the Snowy Night
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.875 x 7.0 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Artist's seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 509 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. C-29 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach
Date: 1932.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. Also bears the Doi watermark.
This seal combination indicates an early postwar edition.
Reference: Hotei #273.
Condition: Toning in margin. Two back corners have tape residue.

Puppies and Banana
Artist: Unidentified. This print is also known to have the unread artist's seal in our enlargement #3.
Size: Approximately 14.4 x 9.0 cm. 5.675 x 3.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 416).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
An early and rarely seen design.

Attributed to Eijiro Kobayashi
High Bridge at Night (Inspired by James Whistler's "Nocturne")
Date: This edition 1938-60.
Size: Approximately 10 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Marginless as originally issued.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. A few small surface scuffs.
After "Nocturne in Blue and Gold; Old Battersea Bridge" by James Whistler

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
The Moon on Musashi Plain
No. 91 from the series "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon"
Date: Published April 1892.
Size: Oban. Approximately 14.375 x 9.5 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Publisher: Akiyama Buemon. Seals in margin.
Carver: Yamamoto.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Left margin partially trimmed. Backed with paper...

Yoshimoto Gesso
Figure at Temple
Date: 1930s.
Print size: Tanzaku. Approximately 13.25 x 3.125 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku (Stamp on verso)
Artist's seal at lower right.
Reference: No. 1591.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to original card.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Toshi Yoshida (1911-1995)
Sacred Grove (Kami no Mori)
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.5 x 7.75 inches.
Date: 1941.
Artist's jikoku (self-carved) seal upper left margin.
Later edition (ca. 1970s-1980s) with impressed pencil signature.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei
Morning Fog
Date: Early. Not known.
Size: Approximately 7.25 x 4.825 inches.
Shotei seal lower right.
Reference: S-126 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight crease lower left corner. Pencil note on back.
Note: Shotei.com notes that this print is probably pre-earthquake due to its rarity.

The Months of Japanese Ladies for 1904 (26 pp. inc. covers)
Date: 1902. This edition February 7, 1903.
Published by T Hasegawa Tokyo (38 Yotsuya Hommura) and Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., London.
26 pages including covers.
Size: 7.0 x 5.0 inches.
Artist: Arai Yoshimune
These charming, profusely illustrated books consist entirely of woodblock prints on creped paper bound with ties and glue...

Takahashi Shotei
Fuji from a restng-booth
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 7.75 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei seal at right.
Reference: S-6 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Very faint diagonal crease in sky. Pencil note on back.

Takahashi Shotei
Evening After a Long Journey
Date: Pre- or post- 1923 earthquake not known.
Size: Approximately 7.25 x 4.825 inches.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at left.
Reference: S-130 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Rough bottom margin. Dash mark left sky. Pencil note on back.

Kawase Hasui
Moonlit Night at Miyajima (Miyajima no Tsukiyo)
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.5 inches.
Signed and sealed lower right.
Date: 1947.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Red, round 6 mm publisher's seal at lower left, indicating a first edition (first state).
Reference: Hotei #497.
Condition: Print is fully adhered to backing board.

Ohara Koson (Shoson)
Magpie and Magnolia
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1931. This edition 1946-1957.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower left.
Shoson signature and seal lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: S5.1 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Excellent. Point-sized mark at bottom edge...

Shotei Takahashi (Hiroaki) (1871-1945)
Riverside at Furukawa
Series: Famous Views of the Eastern Capital
Date: Pre-1923.
Size: 10 x 5 inches.
Shotei seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: S-81 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Two small pieces of tape at back margin. Left margin has spot.
- The blocks for this rare print were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

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.

Takahashi Shotei
Moon Under a Bridge at Hakozaki
Size: Approximately 7.5 x 5.25 inches.
Shotei's Rakutei seal at left.
Date: pre-1936.
Reference: S-49 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Wear on bridge wall. Back has a a few foxing spots and pencil note.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Ushigome Kagurazaka.
Date: 1939.
Size: Oban. 17 x 11.375 inches.
Publisher: Doi Hangaten. Doi watermarked paper.
Carver: Harada. Printer: Yokoi. This seal combination indicates an early post-war edition.
Reference: Koitsu catalog TK-DH-056.
Condition: Top back corners have tape residue. Faint toning apparent in margin to former matte edge.

Kawase Hasui
Snow at Kashi (Kashi no Yuki)
Date: 1930s-50s.
Size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
Hasui seal lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-32.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge to a blank original card.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Torii at Miyajima in Snow (Ryobu-torii of Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea)
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.125 inches.
Date: 1936. From "Shinto and its Architecture."
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Hasui seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei Hb-s9
Condition: Foxing in sky at right. Pencil note on back.

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.

Kawase Hasui
Arakawa
Date: 1930s-50s. This edition ca. 1957.
Publisher: Likely Doi Eiichi. Publisher's seal lower left.
Artist's seal lower right.
Condition: Excellent.
A rarely seen design.

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

Peerless Mount Fuji
Unsigned. Artist not identified.
Date: 1934.
Size: Oban. Approximately 13.75 x 10 inches.
Origin: Issued as a folded insert to an N.Y.K. Line publication called, "Glimpses of the East". The folds are vertical.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A faint foxing spot at the upper left.
The composition of this print is reminiscent of the Fuji views of Tsuchiya Koitsu.

Kawase Hasui
Chion Temple, Kyoto (Kyoto Chionin)
Series: Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai edition
Date: 1933.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black 6mm Watanabe seal lower left corner, indicating a lifetime edition printed between 1946-1957.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.25 inches.
Reference: Hotei #322.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. Top back margin has one piece of tape from previous hinge...

Shoda Koho
Bridge in Rainy Season
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.0 inches.
Date: 1930s.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Artist's signature and seal at lower left.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. Seal at right margin and stamp on verso.
Condition: Excellent. Back has tape residue in two spots.

Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905)
Honmoku
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 391).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Ink dot in sky. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "Honmoku, the old village of the present Yokohama. This little hamlet has jumped to the first rank among harbour cities in Japan since it was opened by Commodore Perr...

Tomioka Eisen
Rice Planting
Size: Approximately 18.2 x 11.6 cm. 7.25 x 4.5 inches
Date: ca. 1910.
Publisher: Matsumoto (No. 390).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Wave in paper where original publisher's tag is attached to the back.
The Matsumoto catalog states, "They are planting the young-rice in the rain, singing a charming song as they work."
An early and rarely seen design.

Kawase Hasui
Byodo-In
Date: 1930s. This edition 1950-60s.
Print size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Woodblock print is tipped along its top edge to original 7 x 4.75-inch blank card.
Oval Hasui seal at upper left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Chuzenji Lake, Nikko
Date: 1930s. This edition early postwar.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Not sealed by artist. Sealed examples exist.
Print is tipped along its top edge to an original card.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Nihonmatsu
Date: pre-1923.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 14.875 x 6.5 inches.
Shotei's Kakei seal at lower right.
Number 352 in japanese on the verso.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-144 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Note: Blocks destroyed in 1923 earthquake.
Condition: Two lighter areas in upper sky from previous mounting.

Torii Kotondo
Combing Hair (Kamisuki). From the Twelve Aspects of Women Series.
Dated: 1929 (numbered first edition)
Edition: 119 of 300 (Numbered by hand on verso as part of embossed stamp.
Paper size: 18.25 x 11.75 inches.
Publisher: Kawaguchi (sealed at right margin).
Carver: Ito. Printer: Komatsu. Seals at left margin.
Artist's signature and seal.
Embossed title at bottom margin.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Tone line near ima...

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.

Ito Shinsui (aka. Shikuntei)(1898-1972)
Preparing Tea
Date: 1950s.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.75 x 7.375 inches (25 x 19 cm).
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Publisher's seal on verso
Signed Shikuntei Shinsuiga. Sealed Shinsui.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent color. Slight creasing and toning.

Koizumi Kishio
Lingering Snow at Five-storied Pagoda
No. 7 from the series, Views of Nikko National Park
Date: 1936.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7.75 inches (25.6 x 19.6 cm).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Possibly faintly signed at lower right.
Condition: Excellent.

Ide Gakusui
Chrysanthemums
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: 1950s-60s.
Gakusui signature and seal lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Woodblock print is tipped along the top edge to original 7 x 4.5-inch blank card.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shoda Koho
A boy playing a flute while riding an ox
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. 1570
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Onshi Park, Shiba
Date: 1937.
First edition with Watanabe E seal (used 1932-1942).
In this edition, the rain is overprinted with silver mica.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Reference: Hotei #422.
Medum: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Hasui's biographer "Narazaki writes: 'An ancient pine tree at the side of a pond; it conveys the brooding mood of a bleak nocturnal downpour. The work was undoubtedly created...

Takahashi Shotei
Red temple in rain; priest over the steps
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: Approximately 6 x 4 inches.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to 7.75 x 5.25 inch original card.
Shotei artist's seal at lower left.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso of print.
Reference: S-7 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Evening Glow at Sakawa Bridge - Chirimen (creped version)
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 11.5 x 5.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-9 in Shotei catalog.
Condition: Small spot above mountain. Pinhole at lower right corner.
Note: The creping process, which was popular in the early twentieth century, adds durability to the paper and tends to intensify color but also changes the dimensions of t...

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.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Meguro Fudo Temple, 1931
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.5 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Black, round Watanabe 6 mm seal at lower left, indicating a lifetime edition made between 1946 and 1957.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #263.
Condition: Two original drying pinholes at left margin. Top margin has a few faint, diagonal marks.

Kawase Hasui
Moon Over Kiyosumi Garden
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.25 x 10.25 inches.
Date: 1938.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe 6 mm round seal lower right corner, indicating a lifetime edition printed between 1946-1957.
Reference: Hotei #424.
Condition: Excellent.