Details

It is said: eventually, every artist working in Japan, particularly printmakers, must take up the challenge of capturing Mt. Fuji. In this print, Azechi takes up the call by showcasing the iconic silhouette of Fuji dressed in autumn foliage. The composition is constructed by swaths of earth tones comprised of geometric shapes that echo Fuji’s conical form. The colors are printed with an expressive hand showcasing an undulated intensity of saturation. Azechi was a devotee of Koshiro Onchi and adopted his spontaneous-wet-like printing style. Onchi advocated for print artists to imbue an emotional element into their work. This composition certainly advances Onchi’s philosophy, showcasing an evocative and highly expressive view of Mt. Fuji.

It is interesting to compare this impression to a lighter variant, also included in this exhibition. Compared to that impression, this print is printed with a much heavier hand. The darker blue coloration in the sky, as well as the more saturated and darker tones throughout Mt. Fuji, suggest a later time of day. Onchi often called artists to produce work that showcased creativity in the printing stage, thus suggesting an emphasis on variants. This impression certainly speaks to Onchi’s philosophy. It also recalls Monet’s fascination with light at differing times of day, as seen in his Haystack series of 1890-1901.

Connoisseur's Note

This impression is in a fine state of preservation with exceedingly sharp and vivid colors and in overall excellent condition.