<b>NIKKO FUTARASAN SHRINE </b> / Tsuchiya Koitsu1930<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Koitsu Tsuchiya left a diverse body of work, but a common thread found throughout his designs is a masterful use of light and shadow. In this print published by Kawaguchi and Sakai, the artist portrays the torii gate at the Nikko shrine complex in the rain.

 The scene is quiet and contemplative, but the active agent in the design, the rain, is falling and dispersing light, color, and shadow in its wake. Of note is the photographic quality of the image, particularly the area just above the torii top crossbeam—the artist has provided a lighter halo-like area that vividly suggests the deflecting rain. Most of the composition is printed with a soft or fuzzy registration that effectively captures light and shadow from this late afternoon downpour.

Connoisseur's Note

This work was published in a single edition by Kawaguchi and Sakai as a slightly oversized design. Though there is no numeration on the reverse, the scarcity of the print in the marketplace suggests a low print run. The print was never framed nor exposed to light for prolonged periods. The print is in a pristine state of preservation and appears as fresh and vibrant as the day it was printed.