Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915)

This is an exceptionally beautiful and important series by Kiyochika for a number of reasons: (1) we can see Kiyochika's mastery of 'kosen-ga' at its finest. Kosen-ga are paintings that express an effect of light and gradation of shadows as main techniques. To my knowledge no other series, earlier or later, expresses such perfection of kosen-ga as this series does. (2) the beginnings of the Shin-Hanga movement can be clearly witnessed in this series, several years before Kawase Hasui, arguably the greatest Shin-Hanga artist, commenced his career as a woodblock print artist. This series has an interesting history. Around 1913 Kiyochika was commissioned by the publisher Matsuki Heikichi to produce sketches for a series of landscape prints that were to be titled '100 Views of Japan'. By the time of Kiyochika's death in 1915 he had about 50 sketches completed. About 36 of these were made into trial prints soon after, however, Matsuki decided not to publish this reduced series until Kiyochika's works became even more popular. The Great Tokyo earthquake then intervened, damaging the woodblocks and delaying the publication of this series. Finally, a total of 26 scenes were published in 1929 after the woodblocks were repaired. There are also another 10 scenes from the circa 1913-15 trial print edition in circulation, but they are extremely rare (see an example below). Although the intended series title was '100 Views of Japan', the 1929 series was issued with no official title, and it has thus been given the unofficial title 'Views of Japan' by collectors. Each print bears the publisher's stamp on the verso together with the notation 'Kiyochika Fukei Shin-ga Hampu-kai' (Society for the Distribution of Kiyochika's Landscapes). Please email me if you have prints from this series to sell.

Views Of Japan

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: The Winter Moon - Kinryuzan Viewed from the Banks of the Sumida River Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Ushigome- the stillness of the Mitsuke quarter Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Hakone Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Fuji in the Morning Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Cherry blossom at Night Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Snowy Evening in the Environs of Mukojima Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Rain on the outskirts of a town Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Sudden Evening Shower at Atami in Izu Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Moon on a Chilly Night at Akashicho, Tsukiji Series: Views of Japan Date: 1915

Trial prints, originally intended for the series 100 Views Of Japan, but not officially released

Artist: Kiyochika, Kobayashi (1847-1915) Title: Morning View of Shinobazu Benten Shrine Series: Views of Japan Date: 1913/14/15

The Views Of Japan Series (some are not in my collection)

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