Toshogu Shrine

This print is from the series ‘Eight Views of Tokyo’. It shows the pagoda of Toshogu shrine in Ueno, viewed though cherry blossm. This print was first published in 1953.

This particular print is most likely after 1990, printed on unwatermarked paper.

The print is in the Shin-Hanga (new prints) style.

Note that the angled cut in the bottom right hand corner of the paper is to allow the printer to align the paper accurately in the different colour blocks used to build up the different colours in the print.

The print is in the Large Oban format - approximately 24cm wide by 36 cm high, with additional margin space for the print title and seals of the publisher, carver, and printer.

 
 

 
 
 

Seal Information

Publisher

The publisher of this print - Unsodo - is identified by the ‘Unsodo Han’ new seal that appears in the bottom left hand corner, outside the margin of the print- the ‘new’ seal was used by the Unsodo Publishing company from 1999 onwards. The seal was validated using information from ‘The Seals of Unsodo Han - The Publisher’s Seals of Unsodo’ from www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/unsodohan.htm

Close up of the Japanese characters that identify the publisher of the print as Unsodo.

Artist

The artist -Shiro Kasamatsu - is identified by the seal ‘Shiro’ that appears in the bottom right hand corner of the print. This signature was validated using information from the Ukiyo-e Signatures and Seals section of the www.artelono..com auction site.

Close up of the artist 'Shiro' signature and seal.

Carver

The carver Nagashima Michio is identified by the seal ‘hori (translates as carver) Nagashima’ that appears outside the mid left margin of the print. The signature has been partially validated using information from ‘The Seals of Unsodo Han - The Publisher’s Seals of Unsodo’ from www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/unsodohan.htm

Close up of the Japanese characters that identify the printer as Nagashima Michio.

Printer

The printer - Ichimura - appears to be identified by a seal that appears in the middle of the print just outside the left hand margin. The first (upper) character translates as ‘Printer’. I have not been able to confirm that this seal actually identifies Ichimura as the printer.

Close up of the Japanese characters that identify th printer as Ichimura.

Title

The title appears outside the margin in the top left hand corner of the print, and translates to ‘Eight Views of Tokyo - Toshogu Shrine’

Close up of the Japanese characters that show the title of the print.