| Artist | TSUCHIYA, Rakusan (1896-1976) (aka Rakuzan) |
| Title | "Red Plum and Green Woodpecker (Early Spring)" ("beni-zakura ni ao-gera (shoshun)") (note: Japanese kanji title is mistakenly labeled as "Red Cherry"--but is actually "Plum") |
| Date | April 1929-1933 ("First Edition" state, "Learn more") |
| Provenance | Private placement. Consigned by family of Air Force serviceman John Kinney stationed in Tokyo 1946-57. |
| Series | "Rakusan's Birds and Flowers" (a 100-print series) ("Raku-zan Ka-chou Ga-fu") |
| Publisher | Self-published |
| Seal, Carver/Printer | Bears "6-kanji First Edition watermark" in lower margin ("Raku-zan Ka-chou Ga-fu") |
| Image Size | LARGE 13 x 18 5/8 (plus wide margins) |
| Impression | Very Fine. Skillfully executed "bokashi" shading; light "gauffrage" (embossing) to feathers and tree; highly detailed carving. |
| Condition | Good++ to Very Good. Clean front and verso. (Two soft vertical creases; minor bumping/discoloration to outer wide margins; light toning; wear.) |
| Reference/Illus | "Rakuzan" reference, pl #22. |
| Comments | Colorful "kacho-e" (bird and flower) image.
Rakuzan's 100 "Birds and Flowers of Japan" prints were sold via private subscription, with
designs issued monthly from April 1929 until completion in 1933. During production, Rakuzan
apologized to his subscribers for delays resulting from his difficulty in finding artisans
capable of producing these large and technically complex images. A RARELY seen print. |
| Item # | BK-51 |
| Price | Special Pricing $525 (Sold/DF) (Reg $675) ($800+ if perfect) |
