Great Masters of Ukiyo-e - In 1914, the young art historian Fujikake Shizuya began collaborating with woodblock publisher Watanabe Shozaburo to produce a history of ukiyo-e with beautiful color woodblock reprints of selected masterworks. Fujikake was the one of the first academics in Japan to focus on ukiyo-e, becoming one of the most well-known and respected leaders in the field.

Published in 1915, "Great Masters of Ukiyo-e" combined Fujikake's research with the highest quality reprints by masters such as Masanobu, Kiyonaga, Utamaro, Shunsho, Toyokuni I, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Kuniyoshi. Watanabe took great care to employ the most skilled carvers and printers, using traditional organic pigments and paper made to his specifications to recreate these Edo-era designs as closely as possible. Production was limited to 500 volumes, with the first 400 reserved for subscribers, each volume containing 39 full-color woodblocks. Most prints have a red seal on the reverse. These outstanding prints provide a rare opportunity to collect classic ukiyo-e designs by Japanese masters.

Publisher - Watanabe Shozaburo, for the Ukiyo-e Kenkyukai (Ukiyo-e Research Association), see example of seal below
Date - Taisho 4 (1915)
Edition - 500 volumes

Artist - Kaigetsudo Dohan (active early 1710s)

Image Size - 15 1/2" x 8 1/4"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight toning. A few natural creases in paper. Please see photos for details.