Takeji Asano - Born in Kyoto, Takeji Asano worked in both the shin-hanga and sosaku hanga Japanese woodblock print traditions. He studied Western and Japanese painting, and became interested in woodblock prints after taking a class with Hiratsuka Un'ichi, one of the founders of the sosaku hanga or creative print movement. In 1929, he helped form the Kyoto Creative Print Society. After WWII, he created many woodblocks of scenery and famous sites in and around Kyoto in various seasons. In addition to designing shin-hanga series for Uchida and Unsodo, he also published his own works. His colorful sosaku hanga woodblocks, self-carved and self-printed, have a real graphic appeal, with bold line work, sweeping views, and handsome compositions. Asano's prints are a great choice for the modern collector, and make attractive framed displays.

Night Scene of Kitano Shrine, 1952 - Handsome view of Kitano Shrine at night, with soft yellow light coming from two paper lanterns flanking the walkway, and stone lanterns at lower left and right. Beautiful soft shading in the sky and ground. This is a rare first edition with the date of 1952 printed in the lower left margin, a detail that does not appear on later prints. The first time we've offered this subject.

Publisher - Unsodo, with publisher's seal in left margin

Artist - Takeji Asano (1900 - 1999)

Image Size - 14 1/4" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Remnants of paper hinge mounts on reverse at top corners. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Good overall.