13 Japanese Woodblock Prints To Prepare for Winter
Whether we’re ready for it or not, winter is coming. To prepare ourselves for the upcoming chilly season, we’ve collected a group of gorgeous winter scenes in selected Japanese prints.
“In much the same way that the Japanese go out in springtime to admire the cherry blossoms, the beauty of snow invites people to come out and admire the winter season,” according to Dieuwke Eijer, Japanese print expert. Further, “Images of cold winter, as indicated by snow scenes, invoke on the one hand feelings of melancholy, and on the other good feelings of bowls of hot noodles, and other typical winter sweet and delicacies.”
“Hiroshige alone made over 1500 different winter scenes. The works incorporate a juxtaposition of the hardships endured by mid-19th century workers and travelers and the serenity of a snow-covered landscape. Despite the palpable discomfort of the situations portrayed, there is always an element of beauty visible.”
These 13 prints below highlight the natural beauty of the upcoming winter season. Bundle up and enjoy.
“Kyoto in Snow” by Ito Yuhan
Kyoto in Snow by artist Ito Yuhan, 1930s. Sold for $425
“Kiso Gorge in Snow” by Hiroshige
Kiso Gorge in Snow Triptych by Hiroshige, 1857. Sold for $340
“Falling in Snow” by Hirokage
Falling in Snow by artist Utagawa Hirokage, 1860. Estimate: $200-$300
“Snow at Shiba Daimon” by Hasui Kawase
Snow at Shiba Daimon by artist Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published posthumously by Watanabe. Sold for $280
“Mt Fuji in Snow” by Tomikichiro Tokuriki
Mt. Fuji in Snow by artist Tomikichiro Tokuriki, 1939. No. 16 from the series The Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji
“Winter Landscape with Crows” by Yamamoto Shoun
Winter Landscape with Crows by artist Yamamoto Shoun, 1900-1910. Sold for $160
“Mallard in Snow” by Ohara Koson
Mallard in Snow by Ohara Koson, 1910. Sold for $110
“Snow at Nezu Shrine” by Koitsu Tsuchiya
Snow at Nezu Shrine by artist Koitsu Tsuchiya, 1950-1963. Yokoi/Harada seal, Early Edition published by Doi. Sold for $260
“Imperial Palace in Snow” by Eiichi Kotozuka
Imperial Palace in Snow by artist Eiichi Kotozuka, 1950. Sold for $85
“Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea” by Hasui Kawase
Tyobu-Torii of Itsukushima Shrine in Inland Sea by Hasui Kawase, 1936. Published by Watanabe for the book “Shinto and its Architecture.” Sold for $100
“Sawatari in Joshu District” by Takahashi Shotei
Sawatari in Joshu District by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $150
“Honganji Temple in Snow” by Kotozuka Hiichi
Honganji Temple in Snow by artist Kotozuka Hiichi, 1950s. Sold for $180
“Hazy Moon on a Snowy Night” by Takahashi Shotei
Hazy Moon on a Snowy Night by Takahashi Shotei, 1936. Sold for $360
Find a wintery Japanese woodblock print for your collection in this week’s Jasper52 auction.