Woodbloke
Sequoia
On our last visit to Japan during 'Cherry Blossom' season (a tick off the 'bucket list', much like Rog S's recent aeronautical adventure) we were after some woodblock prints with cherry blossom as a theme. When we arrived at our hotel, we later went for a stroll in the local area and chanced upon this place run for many years by an American specialising in making modern reproductions (and very good ones). However in the course of thumbing through his offerings we came across a miniature which he confirmed was pre WW2, so possibly 80 or 90 years old. It depicts three lads having a hanami party:
...which means have a good old sing song and getting noisily hammered on sake, under a flowering cherry blossom tree, their activities meanwhile being closely monitored by a pair of geisha. Framed in Bog Oak, with BO splines:
...and AR70 uv resistant, anti-reflective glass. Later on, we then went to one of our favourite galleries in Tokyo where we immediately spotted this:
This one's an original Hiroshige print from a series '36 Views of Mt Fuji, Sumida Riverside', dated around 1840 and produced from the third set of blocks. If you're familiar with modern Tokyo, across the Sumida River can be seen the Sensoji Temple with Mt. Fuji to the left, so it's not too difficult to more or less find the exact spot on the river bank where this image is depicted. Framed in English Walnut with Indian Laurel splines and AR70 glass. The the technique to hold the print in place is to sandwich three layers of acid free washi paper between the underside of the print and the mounting board; no tape or glue of any sort. The last print framed today is a thatched building with cherry blossom:
...by Norikane Hiroto and is a new etching produced quite recently, again framed in English Walnut:
... and AR70 glass - Rob
...which means have a good old sing song and getting noisily hammered on sake, under a flowering cherry blossom tree, their activities meanwhile being closely monitored by a pair of geisha. Framed in Bog Oak, with BO splines:
...and AR70 uv resistant, anti-reflective glass. Later on, we then went to one of our favourite galleries in Tokyo where we immediately spotted this:
This one's an original Hiroshige print from a series '36 Views of Mt Fuji, Sumida Riverside', dated around 1840 and produced from the third set of blocks. If you're familiar with modern Tokyo, across the Sumida River can be seen the Sensoji Temple with Mt. Fuji to the left, so it's not too difficult to more or less find the exact spot on the river bank where this image is depicted. Framed in English Walnut with Indian Laurel splines and AR70 glass. The the technique to hold the print in place is to sandwich three layers of acid free washi paper between the underside of the print and the mounting board; no tape or glue of any sort. The last print framed today is a thatched building with cherry blossom:
...by Norikane Hiroto and is a new etching produced quite recently, again framed in English Walnut:
... and AR70 glass - Rob
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We witnessed these parties that still take place under the blossom on the banks of the Sumida River; much joviality had by all - Rob