Tsuchiya Koitsu (Japanese, 1870-1949), Asakusa Kannon Temple

Dated Showa 8 (1933), woodblock print, from the series "Views of Tokyo (Tokyo fukei)," a lady walks in the rain by Asakusa Kannon Temple holding a blue umbrella, signed Koitsu and red seal Shin to lower left of image, title and date to lower right margin, publisher's marks to the lower left margin, presented loose with full margins.

15 3/4 x 10 1/2 in.

Koitsu Tsuchiya's prints immortalize Japan's scenic beauty. Through subtle effects of light and shadow, Koitsu endowed his work with an aura of bewitching beauty. Born in 1870 outside Hamamatsu, his given name was Koichi. At the age of 15, he moved to Tokyo to study woodblock printing under Matsuzaki, a carver for the ukiyo-e master Kiyochika Kobayashi. However, he soon left Matsuzaki and became a student of Kiyochika himself. For 19 years, Koitsu lived in Kiyochika’s home, studying the art of Japanese woodblock printing. His first prints were war scenes of the Sino-Japanese war (1894-95). He later worked as a lithographer. In 1931, a chance meeting with the publisher Watanabe changed the course of his career. From that time on, Koitsu Tsuchiya specialized in Japanese landscape prints in the Shin Hanga style.

Very good impression and color.