<b>KYOTO</b> / Charles Bartlett1916<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Charles Bartlett was an English painter and printmaker who first traveled to Asia from 1913–1917. In 1915, Bartlett met the Japanese publisher and founder of Shin Hanga, Watanabe Shōzaburo. Shortly after their acquittance, Watanabe hired Bartlett to produce 21 woodblock print designs. Their collaboration resulted in a great success for Watanabe, who desired to revitalize woodblock print production in Edo-period Japan. Bartlett returned to Japan in 1919 and was hired once again by Watanabe to create an additional sixteen woodblock print designs.  

Kyoto is a charming design produced by Bartlett during his first tour of Japan. This rare, early work depicts a group of people crossing one of Kyoto’s many beautiful bridges: children, pilgrims, and a stylish woman in a kimono—complete with a traditional bamboo-and-paper parasol—cross the impressive stone overpass. It is interesting to note that the publisher Watanabe started his career by reproducing famous Ukiyo-e designs by Hokusai and Hiroshige, among others.

With a closer look, this design reveals its pedigree as it is reminiscent of Hiroshige’s Tokyo Station from his famous Hoeido Tokaido series of 1883–1834. Illustrated here, one can see that Bartlett uses a similar perspective as Hiroshige, as well as the same focus, showcasing the various people crossing the bridge.

Connoisseur's Note

This Bartlett design from 1915 is an exceedingly rare work. The great Kanto earthquake of 1923 destroyed the original Watanabe print shop and studio, including the printing blocks and unsold inventory for this design. Only impressions of this design sold before the earthquake and removed from Tokyo survived the earthquake and ensuing fires that consumed the city. This work’s desirability is further bolstered by the pencil signature at the bottom margin as well as its excellent state of preservation, particularly the print’s lush and vivid colors.