A beautiful and very detailed woodblock print by Japanese artist Ohara Koson (1877-1945) of two herons standing in water with leaves and branches in the background, slightly obscuring the view of a bright crescent moon amongst a beautiful night sky, fading from darker tone blues into icy tones. The herons' feathers are actually embossed into the woodblock and have many other detailed features, such as the scales and claws of their feet and the gleam in their eyes...

A truly extraordinary print of the streets of Tokyo by Japanese Shin-Hanga artist Tsuchiya Koitsu circa August of 1939. Two women, both wearing beautiful blue kimonos, walk in the rain holding parasols. The streets are colored a purple/mauve as the rainwater reflects the light of lanterns from inside of a nearby shop, trees rise above buildings, and despite the depicted weather conditions, this is a very colorful scene. Print is signed and stamped in the bottom left corner...

Woodblock print titled "Girl By Twilight" by Japanese artist Rakutei, also known as Takahashi Shotei circa 1951, published by Shima Art Co. A young woman stands under a tree in a deep purple, blue, and red kimono, gazing at a village that lies beyond a bridge. The silhouettes of several villagers can be seen illuminated from their windows. The young woman's bright and beautiful form are contrasted against the dark night...

Japanese print entitled "Last Supper" by Sadao Watanbe. Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) was part of the Mingi (folk art) movement in Japan which involved the use of natural materials. Watanabe's early boyhood job as a textile dyer has influence his work greatly. He used organic mineral pigments with a soybean milk binder (katazome) on hand crumpled paper (momigami). Watanabe's upbringing as a Christian is the main influence of his subject matter...

Kawase Hasui
Hachirogata Lagoon in Akita District
Date: 1927.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.0 x 10.0 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo. Bears the Watanabe A seal in the right margin, indicating a first edition.
Condition: Very good. The margins have been repaired by a conservator. The verso is toned.

Ohara Koson
Fox between reeds near moonlit water.
Date: ca. 1930.
Size: Oban. Approximately 15.0 x 10.5 inches.
Publisher: Kawaguchi and Sakai. Seal in left margin.
Reference: No. S41.4, p. 212 in "Crows Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson" (Reigle Newland).
Condition: Very good. Toning line evident at margin.
A rare design.

Japanese large print entitled "Fruit" by the artist Reika Iwami. She was born in 1927, graduated from the Tokyo Bunka Gakuin Art College. She studied the art of doll-carving and worked under the national treasure, Hori Ryūjo before becoming a print artist in 1954. This print exemplifies her use of large abstract shapes and a muted pallet. In this print, Iwami has used mica and an embossing technique. Signed in graphite, dated 1959...

Original shin-hanga woodblock print titled "Sacred Grove" by artist Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995). It is a nature scene showing a red temple with golden doors and roof, partially obscured by trees. The forest floor is mossy and only a small bit of the sky peeks through the treetops. The print is framed behind glass with a large wooden border. The photo shows reflection on the glass but the print is perfect. Size: (entire frame) 16" height, 12" width (print only) 9" height, 6.5" width

Antique ukiyo-e woodblock print of a man wearing a white kimono with designs of black bamboo shoots, a black apron, and black lacquered geta (footwear). Artist Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1905), pupil to Kunisada. Set behind glass in a large frame, with artist and publishing information written on back. Size: (entire frame) 22.5" height, 17" width, (artwork only) 14" height, 9" width

Antique ukiyo-e woodblock print of a samurai warrior in a crouched pose, one sword on his hip and one in his hands. He wears a blue and red kimono and he has a traditional chonmage hairstyle. Framed behind glass. The back of the frame lists artist Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864). Size: (entire frame) 21.75" height, 17.25" width (artwork only) 14.25" height, 9" width

Antique ukiyo-e style woodblock print by artist Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III (1786-1865), of a samurai warrior blocking the strike of another warrior's sword with his own. He has very detailed undergarments in mesh-patterned blue with light pink flowers, a black and white robe with jagged designs and red trim with a blue obi, and a red headband, with his hair styled in a traditional chonmage...

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.

Antique Japanese print depicting the founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism, Kūkai (774-835). He was a famous calligrapher and engineer who invented the kana, syllabic Japanese scripts used in the Japanese writing system. In his hands he holds a vajra, a ritualistic weapon representing firmness of spirit and spiritual power, and prayer beads...

Beautiful, original woodblock print by ukiyo-e woodblock artist Utagawa Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1864). It is #22 in a series called Sono sugata Yukari no usushi-e, or "Stories of Reincarnated Beings". In the center of the print there is a young child, hunched forward as he eagerly listens to stories from an adult woman in a pink kimono with blue and grey sleeves, with a sheathed sword across her lap. A bowl of treats and a black lamp with flowers sits between them...

Ohara Koson
Scops owl and tree sparrow on a branch, another tree sparrow in flight below
Size: Dai-oban. Approximately 16.5 x 10.25 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku.
Reference: #K20.7, page 187 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Amy Reigle Newland)
Condition: Tonal differences from framing apparent along the top and bottom.
This powerful owl is very rarely seen.

Ohara Koson
Goshawk on snowy branch
Size: o-tanzaku. Approximately 14.5 x 7.5 inches.
Date: Early 20th century.
Publisher: Daikokuya.
Reference: Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Amy Reigle Newland),#K13.12. page 184.
Condition: Stable crease just under top margin. Otherwise excellent.
Another rarely seen Koitsu design.

Oversized Japanese "sosaku hanga" woodblock print by Jun'ichiro Sekino (1914-1988) titled "Boy and His Cat." dated 1957. The artist's white ink signature and red seal are at the lower right corner of the image. The edition number 51/100 and the date are in pencil at the left side of the bottom margin. The right side of the bottom margin holds "Jun Sekino" in black ink. Image size: 24 1/2" x 12 3/8" plus full margins. The framed size is about 36 1/2" x 24 3/4." Very good overall condition...

Kawase Hasui
Woman walking in snow with dog
Date: Early postwar.
Image size. Approximately 5.75 x 3.75 inches.
The woodblock print is tipped at the top to an original early postwar Christmas card.
Condition: Print is excellent. Card is slightly worn.