Title : Awashima Island, Izu- Somejima

Artist : Kasamatsu Shiro

Date : 1953

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Source : Japanese Art Open Database
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Description : Japanese Woodblock by Kasamatsu ‘Awashima Island, Izu’ (1953) Beautiful crescent moon scene titled in Japanese kanji (left margin) as ("Izu Awashima") which translates in English as “Awashima Island, Izu” by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991). Bears artist’s signature/seal in lower left corner of image. Print bears Unsodo’s Publisher’s rectangular seal in left margin along with the carver/printer seals of Nagashima/Shinmi. Dr. Andreas Grund’s authoritative reference “The Complete Woodblocks of Shiro Kasamatsu” indicates this print (#U-15) was first produced “Showa 28” (or 1953). Additionally, Nagashima (carver) is known to have worked for Unsodo during the late 1940’s and 1950’s; and Shinmi (printer) is currently in his 90’s and has long since stopped working. Also bears “Gei” watermark (“gei” is the first kanji character of the of the Unsodo Publishers name, "Un-so-do,” which is spelled “gei” if alone) in the lower left corner. Circa 1950’s?first edition. Seldom seen, the presence of this print’s original (“kanji”) “margin-dating" seen in the lower left margin indicates that this is considered to be a FIRST EDITION printing. All later editions printed after 1960 LACK this margin-dating, as a that time, the Japanese dates were carved off of the “key-block.” To learn more about the dating of editions and prints by Unsodo Publisher, click the following link about "Unsodo Publisher." Nicely printed?superbly executed “bokashi” (gradation of color) shading the various hues of colors seen in the sky. Excellent “bleedthrough” of colors to backside. Print is in excellent condition?no tears, no stains, no fading?clean backside. Note?the right-hand margin is NOT darker as image appears (due to slight shadow). (Note: Small “notch” cut into the lower right corner is known as a “kento cut” and is a necessary aid in the printing process as this ensures perfect alignment and “registration” of the many various woodblocks used during the printing of each color.) Image measures 9 ? x 14 ? inches.

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