<b>BENKEI MOAT</b> / Noel Nouet1936<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

This scene by the Frenchman, Noel Nouët, depicts the moat surrounding Tokyo’s imperial grounds. The design is sharply divided by the body of water, which filters down to the growing metropolis. In the background, the towering modern buildings stand in sharp contrast to the stern and centuries-old moat that segregates and protects the traditional grounds of the royal family.

This subtle but thought-provoking scene may suggest the growing divide between the centuries-old traditions of Japanese society and the newly minted modern city with its imported Western influences and faster pace of life. In this design, Nouët presents a straddle point where East and West meet.

Connoisseur's Note

This is an exceedingly early impression that demonstrates a vivid wood grain pattern in the sky and water. This pattern is an intentional effect, planned by the artist and printer to create a subtle atmospheric quality. Later impressions lack this effect, have a darker coloration to compensate for the loss of the wood grain pattern, and bear Doi seals in the margins. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a scarcely available print in its earliest possible state.