Comments - Terrific image of carp banners flying above homes during the Boy's Day Festival in May. Mounted to bamboo poles, these brightly colored "koi-nobori" symbolize strength and determination, with one banner hung for each son in the family. Here, traditional thatched-roof homes are surrounded by greenery and flowers, with chickens pecking in the fenced yard at left. A lovely homage to this annual event, with wonderful soft color reminiscent of a watercolor painting. This is a rare printer's proof from the Uchida Publisher archives, printed as a test and lacking the black key block and some of the color blocks. An unusual and interesting look into the painstaking process of Japanese woodblock printing.

Artist - Eiichi Kotozuka (1906 - 1979)

Image Size - 15 1/2" x 10 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Slight toning. Please see photos for details.