Lot 187
Hiroshi Yoshida (Japanese, 1876-1950). "Sarusawa Pond" woodblock print on paper, 1933. Hand-signed and titled in pencil at left and lower margins; artist's seal in red at lower right. A tranquil vision of early 20th-century Japan, "Sarusawa Pond" captures Hiroshi Yoshida's mastery of color, atmosphere, and reflection. In this scene, the still waters of Nara's Sarusawa Pond mirror the graceful arc of willow branches and the soaring pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple beyond, rendered in Yoshida's hallmark balance of precision and serenity. The delicate interplay of pastel tones and subtle gradations of light reveal his painterly approach to woodblock printing - an art he elevated through technical rigor and aesthetic restraint. Yoshida's training in Western-style painting is evident in his controlled perspective and naturalistic treatment of light, yet the work remains deeply rooted in Japanese sensibility. Size of print: 10.5" W x 15.75" H (26.7 cm x 40 cm); of frame: 14" W x 19.5" H (35.6 cm x 49.5 cm)
The refined layering of color and the quiet rhythm of form evoke not only a place, but an atmosphere - a fleeting, contemplative harmony between nature and architecture. A quintessential example of Yoshida's later period, "Sarusawa Pond" demonstrates his lifelong pursuit of unity between observation and emotion, a poetic synthesis that defines his contribution to the "shin-hanga" movement.
About the artist: Hiroshi Yoshida was a pioneering Japanese painter and woodblock printmaker whose luminous landscapes and global perspective helped define the "shin-hanga" movement of the early 20th century. Born Hiroshi Ueda in Kurume, Fukuoka, he was adopted at age fifteen by the Yoshida family after his artistic talent was discovered by educator Kasaburo Yoshida. Trained in the "yoga" (Western-style) painting tradition under Koyama Shotaro in Tokyo, Yoshida quickly distinguished himself for his technical precision and his poetic sensitivity to light.
In 1899, Yoshida made his American debut at the Detroit Museum of Art, followed by exhibitions in Boston, Washington, D.C., and at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where he won a bronze medal. His travels across Europe and the United States exposed him to Western techniques and perspectives that would later influence his innovative blending of Western realism and Japanese printmaking.
In 1920, Yoshida began producing woodblock prints at the Watanabe Print Workshop, though he soon founded his own studio where he employed master carvers and printers under his close supervision. His work fused the collaborative "ukiyo-e" method with the personal vision of the "sosaku-hanga" ("creative prints") movement, forming a distinct third path within modern Japanese printmaking.
Yoshida's subjects ranged from Japan's alpine landscapes to the Taj Mahal, the Swiss Alps, and America's Grand Canyon, reflecting his wide travels and cosmopolitan eye. A passionate mountaineer, he founded the Japan Mountain Painting Society and spent months each year sketching in the Japanese Alps, later transforming his studies into prints of remarkable clarity and atmosphere. His pioneering "betsuzuri" (separate printing) technique allowed him to capture variations of light and weather by printing multiple color states from a single block.
Throughout his career, Yoshida produced over 250 woodblock prints characterized by refined color layering, luminous transparency, and painterly precision. His works such as "Glittering Sea," "Ten Views of Mount Fuji," and "The Taj Mahal, Morning Mist" exemplify his lifelong pursuit of harmony between nature, craftsmanship, and emotion.
Yoshida's artistic legacy endures through the renowned Yoshida family of artists - spanning four generations and both genders - whose contributions have shaped the course of modern Japanese art. His prints remain housed in major museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.
In 1939, Yoshida published "Japanese Wood-Block Printing," a seminal text detailing his methods and philosophy, ensuring his influence would continue among artists and collectors alike. A traveler, mountaineer, and visionary, Hiroshi Yoshida elevated the art of the Japanese woodblock to a modern, international language of beauty and light.
Provenance: private Salt Lake City, Utah, USA collection
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#197476
- Condition: Mounted behind glass on custom cloth backing in custom frame; has not been examined outside of glass. Minor smudge to paper at upper margin, as well as tearing with chipping to left and upper peripheries. Two perforations to left margin from book binding. Some light discoloration to paper, but, otherwise, print is in very good condition with good pigments and clear imagery. Hand-signed and titled in pencil at left and lower margins; artist's seal in red at lower right. Frame is in excellent condition with suspension wire on verso for display.
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