YOSHIDA HIROSHI (1876-1950)
YOSHIDA HIROSHI (1876-1950)
YOSHIDA HIROSHI (1876-1950)
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Property from a Private Collection
YOSHIDA HIROSHI (1876-1950)

A double-sided print

Details
YOSHIDA HIROSHI (1876-1950)
A double-sided print
A double-sided woodblock print, comprising:
1) Mount Rainier, signed Yoshida and with artist's flower seal, jizuri (self-printed) seal to left margin, dated 1925
2) Sailing Boat, Mist, with jizuri (self-printed) seal to the left margin, dated 1926
Vertical double oban: 15 x 20 7/8 in. (38.1 x 53 cm.)
Provenance
Scholten Japanese Art, New York

Brought to you by

Takaaki Murakami (村上高明)
Takaaki Murakami (村上高明) Vice President, Specialist and Head of Department | Korean Art

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Lot Essay

This exceptionally rare, perhaps even unique, double-sided print affords a rare opportunity to glimpse into the process of Yoshida Hiroshi's method in creating color-variation prints, known as "betsuzuri." This technique, pioneered by Yoshida, was first employed during his collaboration with Watanabe Shozaburo in 1921, beginning with the Hansen (Sailing Boats) series, which featured three variations.
One side of the present lot depicts Mount Rainier, dating back to 1925. It appears there was a deficiency—possibly an issue with color registration—that prevented it from meeting Yoshida's rigorous standards for public release.
In 1926, having embarked on self-publishing, Yoshida revisited the Hansen series. This revisitation culminated in its presentation at the 8th Imperial Art Academy Exhibition, with Yoshida serving on the jury for the Print section. For this new iteration, he expanded upon the original 1921 Hansen composition, introducing six fresh color variations that showcase his acute ability to capture subtle shifts in color and ambiance.
The reverse side of the current piece documents his experimental efforts with the Kiri (Mist) variation of the series. Here, the sail is rendered in a pronounced brown hue, setting it apart from the grey-toned sail observed in the final print.

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