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.

Comments - Lovely view of a village in Nara at twilight, the sky flooded with orange and peach light as the sun sets. The buildings are shadowed in blue, with a pine tree growing up in the courtyard near the center and bare branches silhouetted against the sky at night. A farmer makes his way along the road with a full basket on his back, while an elderly woman heads in the opposite direction, leaning on her cane. At right, furrows follow the curve of the road with fields stretching into the distance beyond. A beautiful design.

Publisher - Unsodo, later edition

Artist - Takeji Asano (1900 - 1999)

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

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report.