Nijubashi Bridge
by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870–1949)
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- Type
- Original woodblock print
- First edition
- 1939
- This impression
- 1939
- Image size
- 24.2 × 36.3 cm
- Condition
- Fair (see condition notes)
Description
This print was commissioned by the Japanese government during the war. It depicts the Nijubashi, over the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Although this was a popular scene for Japanese woodblock prints in general, such as those by Kawase Hasui, it was likely chosen here for its patriotic connotations. Tsuchiya Koitsu captured the tranquility of the scene, even during a time when woodblock printmaking faced challenges due to material shortages and difficult circumstances in general. It is believed that only one edition was created, making the print relatively rare to find.
Condition notes
The print is in fair state. At the lower left bottom there is a tear in the paper and a fold, partly repaired on the back. The paper is damaged in a few other places in the margins as well, and the margin is browned on the lower right side. Inside the image there are a few very mild spots and a wrinkle in the sky on the right between the branches of the trees. On the back the repairs of the paper can be seen.