Original Holzschnitt, Veröffentlicht von Watanabe - Papier - Tier - Itō Sōzan 伊藤総山 (b 1884, act 1919-26) - Momiji ni bunchō 紅葉に文鳥 (Java sparrow on maple leaves) - Japan - 1920er Jahre (Taishō)

Original woodblock print, Published by Watanabe - Paper - Animal - Itō Sōzan 伊藤総山 (b 1884, act 1919-26) - Momiji ni bunchō 紅葉に文鳥 (Java sparrow on maple leaves) - Japan - 1920s (Taishō)

Regarded as a major Japanese landscape artist of the 20th century, Hasui’s prints are characterized by their serenity of mood and flawless composition. While his landscapes are markedly modern, these shin hanga prints yearn for a Japan past. The finest prints and drawings of this period have a unique and immediate appeal that rests upon traditional virtues of delicacy, poise and restraint.

1921 edition, printed using the original woodblocks.

First edition 1921.

Published by Watanabe

memo
From around 1907, Watanabe Publisher(渡邉木版画店) printed woodblock prints of flowers and birds for export called “shin-hang” as a new print to replace the duplicate ukiyo-e prints.
As a new print, he produced bird-and-flower paintings and bijin-ga paintings from 1919 (Taisho 8) to 1926 (Showa 1). Both “Hori Kiri Hanashobu(堀きり花菖蒲)” and “Yanaka Tennoji(谷中天王寺)” were collaborations in which Takahashi Shotei drew the landscape and Soyama drew the flowers and birds.
In June 1921, at the “New Board Painting Exhibition” held at Nihonbashi Shirokiya sponsored by Watanabe Print Shop, “Shiyohana”, “Yuri(百合)”, “Firefly(蛍)”, “morning glory(朝顔)”, “Ginkgo and woodpecker(銀杏に啄木鳥)” , “poultry(鶏)” and 6 prints were exhibited.
In April 1932, at the “3rd Contemporary Creative Woodblock Print Exhibition” also held at Nihonbashi Shirokiya, Soyama used three woodblock prints, “Two Inco” and “Two Inco”. Six items are exhibited: “Firefly”, “Willow and heron(柳に鷺)”, “Peacock(孔雀)”, “Autumn leaves and Java sparrow(紅葉に文鳥)”, and “Swallow on willow(柳に燕)”.