<b>AUGUST NAKAMURA SHRINE</b> / Asami Kojo1955<b>SOLD</b></em>
ARTIST: Asami Kojo (1890–1974)
TITLE: Nakamura Shrine, August 1931–1932
SERIES: New Publishing of the Famous Places in Nagoya
MEDIUM: Woodblock print
DATE: 1931-32
DIMENSIONS: 15 x 9 3/4 inches
CONDITION: Light mat line visible at left and slight oxidation to red in torii gate
SOLD
ARTIST: Asami Kojo (1890–1974)
TITLE: Nakamura Shrine, August 1931–1932
SERIES: New Publishing of the Famous Places in Nagoya
MEDIUM: Woodblock print
DATE: 1931-32
DIMENSIONS: 15 x 9 3/4 inches
CONDITION: Light mat line visible at left and slight oxidation to red in torii gate
SOLD
ARTIST: Asami Kojo (1890–1974)
TITLE: Nakamura Shrine, August 1931–1932
SERIES: New Publishing of the Famous Places in Nagoya
MEDIUM: Woodblock print
DATE: 1931-32
DIMENSIONS: 15 x 9 3/4 inches
CONDITION: Light mat line visible at left and slight oxidation to red in torii gate
SOLD
Details
Asami Kojo was known as a Nihonga painter based in Nagoya. Kojo routinely exhibited his paintings at government-sponsored exhibitions such as the Bunten, Teiten, and Shin-Bunten. Though not known for his woodblock print designs, he was quite a capable artist that easily extended himself into this medium.
In 1931–1932 Kojo produced 12 prints inspired by the months of the year as they unfolded in his native home of Nagoya. These prints were well received in Nagoya but were never produced in substantial quantities as one might expect in a larger market such as Tokyo.
In this design, Kojo presents the viewer with a stunning night scene of Nakamura Shine. Above the Torri gate are fireworks set ablaze as they trail down to the expressive landscape executed in tonalities of gray that remarkably resemble sumi-e painting. What sets Kojo apart from other print artists of this time is his work pays careful attention to the figures that populate the designs. Unlike other artists in the Shin Hanga tradition such as Hasui or H. Yoshida, Kojo carefully articulates the figures in his work, giving them personalities and expressions that directly interact with the scene the artist conjures. In this design, Kojo skillfully articulates the faces of the children as they look up to admire the splatter of light the fireworks produce.
Connoisseur's Note
Kojo’s woodblock prints are seldom available for sale. The limited quantities in which they were originally produced have ensured their rarity and well as their desirability among collectors. The limited runs also ensured the quality of their printing. If one looks closely, this impression displays a strong painterly effect—perhaps mimicking the artist’s technique in painting, as background as a wash in tonalities of gray seems to effectively mimic sumi-e. Also of note is the woodgrain design in the sky, skillful use of bokashi, or color gradation, as well as the use of deluxe printing techniques of overprinting most noticeable in the surface of the red torii gate.
