Althought the entire graphical work of Noel Nouet perhaps appears small when compared with the outcome of decades of activity of other "shin hanga" artists (e.g., Kawase Hasui or Hiroshi Yoshida), nevertheless, his prints are part of the "shin hanga" development and history as well. Influenced by his French heritage, he shows us the scenery of Showa-era Tokyo in a romantic way.
All prints of this "Scenes of Tokyo Views" are printed in the "oban" format, approximately 24 x 40cm. The two earliest prints, from 1935. being almost monochromatic.
Many of the designs are still available today, either as original early editions or as a later editions, probably from recut blocks. Interestingly, the prices even for later editions are 50% above the Doi-published reprints of Hasui or Koitsu. The reason? Mrs. Suzue Doi gave me a simple and somehow convincing explanation: "The carving work!!" Based on Nouet's intricate and highly detailed pen sketches, each line had to be transferred into a carved line, adding all together, certainly it ends up at hundreds of yards carved for a single key-block.
Cover page, top, and details, right
"Tokyo fukkei zen nijuyon mai",
"Scenes of Tokyo, Twenty-four views," published by "Han moto Doi Hangaten" of Tokyo in Showa 12 (1937)
