The Process of Wood-Cut Printing
- SIGNED
- 1950
1950. Tokyo: Doi Hangaten, n.d. [ca. 1950].
Accordion book (105 x 155 mm), [20] pp. First page (pastedown) with tipped-on leaf of text in English, followed by 19 tipped-on printed plates. Original boards covered in decorative Japanese washi, upper cover with printed paper title label in English. Label a little worn and faded, one woodcut with small chip to bottom edge. Very good.
§ A sweet and quite rare little book demonstrating the progressive states of a Japanese "Uykio-e" woodblock print. Beginning with with the key block (an outline printed in black), the accordion book presents nine further impressions, with the left side of each opening showing the color alone, and the right side showing the cumulative effect upon the key block. By breaking down the process, the precision and artistry behind the final image is made wonderfully clear.
The English description on the pastedown explains that the print was originally produced by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949) in 1936 for the publisher Doi Hangaten, whose mark appears in the right hand corner of each print. Koitsu was a Shin-hanga ("new print") artist, and the "best pupil" of Kobayashi Kiyochika, considered by many to be one of the last Uykio-e masters. The print depicts Asakusa Temple in Tokyo, also known as Senso-ji, a hugely popular pilgrimage and tourist destination for centuries. The book itself was likely intended for the tourist market. OCLC locates just five copies.
Accordion book (105 x 155 mm), [20] pp. First page (pastedown) with tipped-on leaf of text in English, followed by 19 tipped-on printed plates. Original boards covered in decorative Japanese washi, upper cover with printed paper title label in English. Label a little worn and faded, one woodcut with small chip to bottom edge. Very good.
§ A sweet and quite rare little book demonstrating the progressive states of a Japanese "Uykio-e" woodblock print. Beginning with with the key block (an outline printed in black), the accordion book presents nine further impressions, with the left side of each opening showing the color alone, and the right side showing the cumulative effect upon the key block. By breaking down the process, the precision and artistry behind the final image is made wonderfully clear.
The English description on the pastedown explains that the print was originally produced by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949) in 1936 for the publisher Doi Hangaten, whose mark appears in the right hand corner of each print. Koitsu was a Shin-hanga ("new print") artist, and the "best pupil" of Kobayashi Kiyochika, considered by many to be one of the last Uykio-e masters. The print depicts Asakusa Temple in Tokyo, also known as Senso-ji, a hugely popular pilgrimage and tourist destination for centuries. The book itself was likely intended for the tourist market. OCLC locates just five copies.