Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Woodblock Prints (748)

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
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.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Port Tomo, May 1939
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.0 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-54
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Very light foxing.

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...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Moonrise at Tokumochi
Date: Pre-1936.
Chuban. Approximately 10 x 7 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. No. 197 in 1936 Watanabe catalog.
White 6 mm Watanabe seal at lower right.
Artist's seal lower left.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Slight fading. Paper residue at back bottom margin.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Snow at Asakusa Kannon-do
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-22 in Shotei catalog.
Provenance: From the collection of Canadian missionary Sybil Courtice, who was in Japan from the early 20th century up until WWII.
Condition: Excellent.

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.

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...

Kawase Hasui
Bird's Eye View of Kiyomizu Temple in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 5.675 x 3.675 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Artist's oval seal at lower right.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-59.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
This marginless print is from a mid-century collection that included another marginless Hasui print.
Most examples are found with margins, so it may have been trimmed or issued in this state.

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.

Ito Yuhan
Evening at Miyajima
Date: 1930s. A pre-war or early postwar edition.
Size: Oban. Approximately 16.0 x 10.5 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.

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.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Lake Chuzenji in Nikko
Size: 5.625 x 3.625 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo.
Date: 1930s.
Koitsu's Shinsei seal at lower left.
Koitsu catalog no.: TK-TM-121.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Faint mark in snow near title.

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.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Peacock and Peahen in a Flowering Cherry Tree
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Hiroshi Yoshida
Temple in the Wood
Date: 1940.
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 self-printing by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Toned paper. Corner margins have heavy creases.
Dedicated in top margin: "Captain and Mrs Tibbitts, Wishing a Merry X'mas and a Happy New Year - Gozo and Shiori"

Eijiro Kobayashi
Evening Cool on Sumida River. Sepia version.
Series: Hasegawa Night Scenes.
Date: 1938-1960.
Eijiro seal at lower right.
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku. No. 1244 in Hasegawa catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

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...

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.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Carrion Crow on a Snow-covered Stump.
Date: 1930s.
Size: Approximately 5.25 x 2.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Bears the Shoson seal.
Reference: S5.4 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Made in Japan stamped on verso.
A rarely seen design.
Condition: Excellent.

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.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Priest in Snow on a Mountain Path
Date: Pre-1936.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Beautifully professionally framed with UV protective glass. Framed size: 22 x 13.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Title and Shotei seal lower left.
Reference: M-60 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Hiroshi Yoshida
A Little Temple Gate
Date: 1933.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Signed and sealed in the image. Titled and signed in pencil.
Jizuri seal at upper left margin indicating self-printing by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Abe #181.
Condition: Excellent color. Light foxing on back very faintly visible in sky in places...

Kawase Hasui
The Torii at Miyajima at Night
Date: 1930s.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Size: Koban. Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Reference: Hotei Hp-52.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Arai Yoshimune
The Temples in Shiba Park (penciled title, "Shinto Shrine)
Date: ca. 1910s-38.
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9.2 cm)
Artist's Yoshimune seal at lower left.
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print attached along its top edge only to an unused holiday card.
Condition: Print is excellent. Card is toned and has lower left corner bend.

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.

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Woman returning in autumn evening
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15 x 6.75 inches.
Date: pre-1936.
Shotei seal at left.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
No. 205 in 1936 Watanabe catalog. M-5 in Shotei catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Shoda Koho
Moonlit Sea with Clouds - Sepia version
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.875 x 7.125 inches.
Date: 1910-1938.
Koho seal at lower left.
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro/Nishinomiya Yosaku
An early marginless edition as originally issued.
"Made in Japan" stamped on bottom left verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back has adhesive residue...

Shoda Koho
Ueno Park
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.75 inches.
Date: 1910-38. A rare, early edition on card-like paper.
Publisher: Hasegawa. #1248 in Hasegawa catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamp and #427 tag on verso.
Not sealed by the artist.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Katsuhira Tokushi (1904-1971)
Rice Bales (Fumidawara)
Date: 1932
Bears the round "Toku" seal.
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
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.

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...

Shoda Koho
Lake Biwa
Hasegawa Night Scenes series, no. 1247.
Date: 1910s-1938.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.125 x 7.5 inches
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro/Nishinomiya Yosaku.
Artist's seal at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

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.

Imao Keinen (1845-1924)
Crow and Flowering Cherry
Date: ca. 1930
Size: Approximately 15.0 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Shima Art.
Provence: Purchased directly from the Robert O. Muller estate.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition. Excellent. Uncirculated.

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.

Kawase Hasui
Senjogahara, Nikko (Senjo Plain Nikko)
Date: 1937. First edition
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe F seal (used 1934-41) at right margin.
Size: Oban. 16 x 11 inches.
Signed and sealed by the artist.
Reference: Hotei #410.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Pencil note at bottom back margin "artist - Hasui".

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.

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
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.

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Flycatcher and Cucumber.
Date: pre-1936.
Size: Approximately 10.0 x 3.5 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. W36-458 in Watanabe 1936 catalog.
Bears the Shoson seal.
Reference: S10.3 (cat. 160, p. 156) in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
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.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Arashiyama
Date: 1930s. Size: Chuban. Approximately 10.25 x 7.5 inches.
Publisher: Takemura. Koitsu.com catalog number: TK-TM-64
This print is rare.
Condition: Excellent.

Kawase Hasui
Hie Shrine
Date: 1936.
Size: Koban. Approximately 7.5 x 5.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the oval Hasui seal.
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.

Katharine Jowett (1890-1965) Sunset Behind East Gate, Peking.
Date: ca. 1930.
Size: 10.5 x 6.0 inches.
Pencil-signed by the artist.
Medium: Woodblock print.
Condition: Light crease. See additional photos. Top back margin has transparent tape from previous framing.

Takahashi Shotei (1871-1945)
Night Shower at Izumi Bridge
Date: Pre-1932.
Size: Mitsugiri-ban. Approximately 15.0 x 6.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: M-16 in Shotei catalog.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: A thin paper spot at bridge post as shown. On the back, there are two thinner portions where tape had been. Tiny 1 cm tear extending from right center margin...

Kawase Hasui
Wakanoura
Date: 1930s.
Size: Koban. Approximately 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent. Paper residue at 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.

Tadamasa Ueno (Torii Tadamasa)
Kumadori Ju-hachi Ban. Makeup for Asagao Senpei from Sukeroku. Eighteen Famous Kabuki Plays.
Date: 1940. First edition.
Size: 15.75 x 10.75 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Seal E (1932-42) at lower left margin.
Signed and sealed at upper left.
Condition: Fading in the blues. The upper background was tinted blue where formerly matted.

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.

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.

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.

Kawase Hasui
Pagoda in Snow
Date: 1930s.
Size: 6 x 4 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Reference: Hotei #Hp-58
Condition: Excellent.

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
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.

Tsuchiya Koitsu
Himeji Castle, March 1936
Size: Mitsugiriban. Approximately 16.0 x 7.25 inches.
Publisher: Takemura Hideo
Koitsu catalogue no.: TK-TM-14
Condition: Tipped at top to original cardstock. Toning and light foxing.

Eijiro Kobayashi
Evening Cool on Sumida River.
Series: Hasegawa Night Scenes.
Date: 1910s-1938. Early edition.
Eijiro seal at lower right.
Size: Approximately 9.75 x 7.125 inches.
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro.
Reference: No. 1244 in Hasegawa catalog.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

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.

Takahashi Shotei
Red temple in rain; priest over the steps
Date: ca. 1920s-30s.
Size: 5.75 x 3.5 inches
Reference: S-7 in Shotei catalog.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.
Compare with our Shotei127.