Tsuda Seifū 津田青楓 and Asano Kokō 浅野古香, artists

Ochigaki [Rakugaki] 落柿

1906. Item #91003

Tsuda Seifū 津田青楓 and Asano Kokō 浅野古香, artists. Ochigaki [Rakugaki] 落柿. Kyoto. Unsōdō. 芸草堂. Meiji 39 [1906]. 2 orihon folding albums 24.6 x 17.8cm with original color woodblock-printed designs. Tsuda Seifū 津田青楓 (1880-1978), in this early incarnation (he lived until 98), was one of the foremost designers of the Neo-Rimpa renaissance. During his long artistic career, he would contribute as a designer, as here, a Western-style painter in oil and watercolor, a book designer and a traditional Nihonga painter. Though very prolific, his early design works done for Unkindō 雲錦堂 and Unsōdō 芸草堂 of Kyoto have rarely survived and thus are known primarily by rumor and by looking through old Unsōdō catalogs from the period. Here is a complete copy of one of those albums, "Fallen Persimmons," which he did in collaboration with fellow designer and friend Asano Kokō 浅野古香, who would die young. There are 30 double-page designs printed and over-printed in saturated color and metallic inks.

The volumes are in very clean shape, inside and out and the prints are extraordinary. A happy confluence of rarity and great beauty.

Price: $6,500.00