<b>COLLECTION OF WOODBLOCK PRINTS OF THE TAISHO EARTHQUAKE</b> / Assorted 1924<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a catastrophic event in Japanese history, profoundly impacted the realms of photography and printmaking. In its aftermath, photographers documented the widespread destruction, capturing haunting images of the devastation and human resilience, reflecting a new era of social consciousness and realism in Japanese photography. The disaster also played a pivotal role in revitalizing traditional woodblock printmaking, inspiring artists to create powerful and emotionally charged prints that depicted the earthquake's aftermath, offering a bridge between the past and present by blending traditional techniques with contemporary subject matter. This seismic event thus left an indelible mark on Japanese art, pushing it towards greater social engagement and a fusion of modern and traditional artistic sensibilities.

This set of prints depicts the devastation of the earthquake and the ensuing fires that raged throughout Tokyo for days after the quake. The designs vary from graphic representation to subtle and more aesthetic responses. Of note are the designs by Oda Kancho (1889-1961) that depict the devastation with a highly stylized hand of the Art Deco period. Other artists represented are Isoda Chōshū (1880-1947), Kawasaki Shoko (1886-1977), Kiriya Senrin (1876-1932), Nishizawa Tekiho (1889–1965), and Tamura Saiten (Japanese, 1889-1933).

Connoisseur's Note

This exceedingly rare album of previously unpublished photography is of important historical importance. The photos not only document the destruction but also serve as a record of the documentarian work produced at the time as well as the artistic response to this tragedy.