Gallery 3C: Prints by Asano Takeji
Tōdaiji Temple in Snow. Undated. 8.9 x 14.3 cm
Asano Takeji (1900-1999) worked within both the Shin-Hanga and Sōsaku-hanga movements. As a Sosaku hanga artist, he carved and printed some of his landscape prints himself, although these images are in a style more typical of Shin-Hanga artists. It seems unlikely that he would have been as directly involved in the production of the miniatures he designed.
Several larger designs by Asano are found in miniature but with some modification. It is unclear whether these were additional designs by the artist, variations directed by the publisher, modifications created by the carver, or represent “knock-offs” by other artists.
The prints in this section have not been formerly dated but most were likely produced in the 1950s.
Village Stroll in Moonlight. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
Temple in Winter Snow. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
Canal at night.6.4 x 9.0 cm
Daimonji Festival. 6.3 x 8.7 cm
Temple with Lantern and Torii Gate. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
Temple Gate in Snow. 6.1 x 8.9 cm
Pagoda. 6.3 x 8.9 cm
Mt. Fuji and Lake. Published by Goto Wood-Block Print Company, Nagoya. 6.4 x 9.1 cm
Ukimido. Published by Goto Wood-Block Print Company, Nagoya. 6.4 x 9.0 cm
Pagoda. Published by Goto Wood-Block Print Company, Nagoya. 6.4 x 9.0 cm
Village Street in Rain. Published by Goto Wood-Block Print Company, Nagoya. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
6,4 x 9.1 cm
After Asano. Night Scene of Kitano Shrine. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
Lantern along River. Published by Goto Wood-Block Print Company, Nagoya. 6.3 x 9.0 cm
Zojoji Temple Grounds at Night. 8.9 x 6.9 cm
Silver Pavillion (Ginkakuji) in Autumn. 8.9 x 6.9 cm
Kiyomizu Temple in Autumn. 8.9 x 6. cm
Daimonji Bonfire. 8.9 x 6.9 cm
Rainy Day at a Temple. 8.9 x 6.9 cm
Snow in Sanjyo-obashi Bridge.. 8.8 x 6.7 cm
Arashiyama in Snow. 9.0 x 6.8 cm
Choin Temple in Spring. 8.8 x 6.8 cm
Nijō Castle in Moonlight. 8.9 x 6.8 cm
Heian-jingū. 1950s. 8.9 x 6.8 cm
Snow in Kinkakuji Temple. Published by Unsodo. 8.9 x 6.8 cm
Great Buddha. 7.6 x 11.3 cm
Stone Lanterns and Temple in Snow. Undated. 8.9 x 14.3 cm
Pagoda in Snow. 8.9 x 14.4 cm
Temple Gate in Show. Undated. 8.9 x 14.1 cm
Red Gate in Snow. Undated. 9.0 x 13.5 cm
Maiko in Winter. 9.0 x 13.8 cm.
After Asano. Unsigned. Unsealed. Image of a Pagoda in Snow with a composition similar to an Asano design. From an Unsodo specimen album for galleries and dealers. 1970. 8.9 x 13.9 cm
Byodo-in Temple. Published by Unsodo. Undated. 14.0 x 8.9 cm
Untitled. An image of a farm and Mt. Fuji. Published by Unsodo. 1950s. 17.4 x 12.1 cm
Floating Torii at Shirahige Shrine. Published by Unsodo. 1950s. 17.2 x 11.9 cm
Kiyomizudera Temple in Spring. Published by Unsodo. 1950s. 17.2 x 12.1 cm (See second copy below in the set Eight Noted Places in Kyoto)
Snow at Ginkakuji Temple. 9.1 x 13.9 cm
The image to the left was printed on very thin paper and attached to a blank greeting card reportedly dating to the 1920s. It represents a miniaturization of one of the earliest known prints by Asano, but is without signature or seal. It may represent an knock-off print but this is unclear. The origianal print was published by Sato Shotaro who went out of business in 1931.
Views of Fuji
Envelope for Views of Fuji
Fuji from Mishimi. 14.0 x 9.0 cm
Fuji from Izu Mito (from South). 14.0 x 9.0 cm
Fuji from Utsuno (West).. 14.0 x 9.0 cm
Fuji from Lake Ashinoko, Hakone (South-East). 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Views of Kinki; Famous Places of Kyoto (Woodblock printed postcard set)
The following set of postcards was pieced together from four incomplete sets. Duplicates are included here to show some of the subtle differences in colors and shading reflective of the variable application of pigments during the woodblock printing process. An insert in one of the envelopes for the set listed the titles for eight images. Missing from the collection are images for Daimonjo Buddhist FIre, Byodoin Temple in Spring, and Snow Scene of Kinkaku-ji Temple.
Envelope for Views of Kinki
Insert with list of images.
Autumn Scene of Northern Kyoto. 14.0 x 8.9 cm
Autumn Scene of Northern Kyoto. Second Copy. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Arashiyama on a Rainy Day. 14.1 x 9.0 cm.
Arashiyama on a Rainy Day. Second Copy. 14.2 x 9.1 cm
Kiyomizu Temple in Autumn. 14.0 x 8.9 cm
Kiyomizu Temple in Autumn. Second Copy. 14.0 x 9.0 cm
Heian Shrine in Spring. 14.2 x 9.0 cm
Heian Shrine in Spring. Second Copy. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Snow Scene of Toji Temple. 13.9 x 9.0 cm
Snow Scene of Toji Temple. Second copy. 14.1 x 8.9 cm
Heien Shrine (Woodblock Printed Postcard Set).
Envelope for Heien Shrine Woodblock Printed Postcards. c. 1940
Back of envelope for Heien Shrine Woodblock Printed Postcards.
Garden Bridge at Heien Shrine in Winter. 14.0 x 8.9 cm
Heien Shrine Garden. 14.1 x 8.9 cm
Daigoku-den and Byakko-ro Tower at Heien Shrine. 1940. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Sights of Tokyo, Noted Places of Nara (Woodblock Printed Postcard Set)
EEnvelope for Sights of Tokyo, Noted Places of Nara. Published by Unsodo in the 1930s
Winter-Kasuga Shrine. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Spring-Wakakusa Hill. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Summer-Sarusawa Pond. 14.1 x 9.0 cm
Autumn-Nara Park. 14.2 x 9.0 cm
Eight Noted Places of Kyoto
These eight prints are from Asano’s series Eight Noted Places of Kyoto which was published in the 1950s by Unsodo. The four seasons are each represented by two prints. Prints are affixed by their upper corners to presentation cards with all eight prints presented together in a portfolio. The thin paper and affixed corders lends itself to waving of the paper which is apparent in the upper margin of many of these prints.
Kiyomizu. Spring. 17.2 x 12.1 cm
Arashiyama. 17.2 x 12.0 cm
Byōdō-in Summer. 17.1 x 12.1 cm
Daimonzi Festival. 17.1 x 11.9 cm
Takao. 17.2 x 12.1 cm
Tofukuji. 17.2 x 11.9 cm
Kamigamo Shrine. Winter. 17.1 x 12.0 cm
Tōji Shrine. 17.2 x 11.9 cm
The images below are of woodblock printed postcards from three sets in a series of famous sites in Kyoto. All but one image also appear above as separate prints in the “half-postcard” size. These were published by Unsodo.
Envelope for Takeji's Woodblock Prints. Kyoto Famous Prints. Volume 1. 10.8 x 19.2 cm
Higashihonganji Temple in Rain. 9.8 x 14.1 cm
Heian Shrine in Spring. 9.9 x 14.1 cm
Snow in Sanjyo-obashi Bridge. 9.9 x 14.0 cm
Imperial Palace in Moon-light. 39.8 x 14.0 cm
Envelope for Takeji's Woodblock Prints. Kyoto Famous Prints. Volume 2. 10.7 x 19.5 cm
Snow in Arashiyama. 9.8 x 14.1 cm
Saniyusangendo, Temple in Rain. 10.0 x 14.0 cm
Ginkakuji Temple in Autumn. 9.8 x 14.0 cm
Daimonji Bonfires. 9.9 x 14.1 cm
Envelope for Takeji's Woodblock Prints. Kyoto Famous Woodblock. Volume 3. 10.7 x 19.3 cm
Snow in Kinkakuji Temple. 9.9 x 14.0 cm
Nijo Castle in Moon-light. 9.9 x 14.0 cm
Kiyomizu Temple in Autumn. 9.9 x 14.0 cm
Chioin Temple in Spring. 9.8 x 14.0 cm
Undated. 6.3 x 8.8
This image has similarities to Asano’s print Bamboo Grove of Saga published by Unsodo in 1952. It may be a miniature version of the print that was designed by the artist or could be a work by another artist based on Asano’s.
Moonlight in MII Temple. Undated. 6.2 x 8.9
An unsealed miniaturization of the Asano print Moonlight in MII Temple.
Miniatures not produced using the woodblock printing process.
Twilight in the Village, Nara. Undated. 9.4 x 6.0 cm
These two prints are miniaturizations of larger prints by Asano. However, close examination reveals features that are inconsistent with woodblock prints.
Moonlight in Sarusawa Pond, Nara. 9.2 x 5.9 cm
The prints below are reproductions of postcard sized woodblock prints by Asano Takeji that were previously in the collection. These prints were tipped into Christmas cards from a boxed set dating to 1952. Magnification reveals the typical dot matrix seen with offset lithography. Three of the images are reproductions of woodblock prints in the collection above.
8.5 x 12.8 cm
8.5 x 12.9 cm. See woodblock example here.
Arashiyama in Snow. 8.5 x 13.0 cm
Children Playing on New Year's Day. 8.5 x 13.1 cm
Maiko in Winter. 8.5 x 13.1 cm
Making a Snow Man. 8.5 x 13.1 cm
13.2 x 8.6 cm
13.2 x 8.6 cm
Tōji in Snow. 13.2 x 8.6 cm