After Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949) – Nikko Five-Story Pagoda

Original woodblock print. First published circa late 1930s. The current print was printed in the Showa period (1926 – 1989).

The current design is very small, only half a postcard, but an elegant one. It might have been attributed to Tsuchiya Koitsu by mistake.

For efficiency reasons, such small designs were often carved next to each other in the woodblocks, to allow simultaneous impressions. In the current instance, four designs were printed simultaneously, with slight variations among them. The current print is an impression from the design in the lower right corner, as evidenced by a printing smudge in the lower right margin.

Image size (excluding margins): 9.0 * 5.9 cm (3.5 * 2.3 in).

The print is in very good state. There is a very faint foxing spot to the right of the pagoda.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

References: R. Walker and Toshikazu Doi, The Catalogue Raissonee of Tsuchiya Koitsu, 2008, TK-DH-211, p. 160.

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Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949) was a Japanese woodblock print artist. He is known for his high-quality Shin hanga prints, excelling in the depiction of light and shadow and the expression of mood.

Discover more information and see an overview of Tsuchiya Koitsu’s prints.

See an overview of Tsuchiya Koitsu's woodblock prints