Asai Chū 淺井忠

Mokugo Zuanshū 默語圖案集

1912. Item #90915

Asai Chū 淺井忠. Mokugo Zuanshū 默語圖案集. Kyōto : Unsōdō. Meiji 45 [1912]. 1st printing Meiji 42 [1909]. This is the third printing of Meiji 45 [1912]. Printed paper covers over boards, tassel-bound. In the original clasped chitsu with a paper label. This tall 4to sized volume (36.5 x 25cm is a wonderful deluxe compendium of Asai’s design work. Asai Chū 淺井忠 (1856-1907) is famous as one of the two most important western-style painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Japan, but his design work, as well, was at the forefront of the international design revolution of his day. In the early years of the 20th century after his return from several years in France and before his premature death in 1907, Asai taught design and painting in Kyoto and influenced some of the most important Japanese artist and designers who flourished thereafter. This work, published posthumously by his friends, is masterfully printed by Unsodo and includes 24 pages of color woodblock prints after his designs and 41 pages of collotypes. This copy is in lovely condition throughout, though the chitsu is a bit worn and soiled. Though it went through several printings early in this century, of which this is the third, the printing runs appear to have been very small and the printing quality is very good. It has become a very scarce book. Complete, as issued.

Price: $3,250.00