Fabulous color vertical nagaban approx 9″ x 19 1/2″ entitled Shonenko from the Shiika Shashin Kagami (or,’A Realistic Mirror of Poets: Youthful Progress’). This print was part of a series produced in 1834-35 intended to illustrate poems by the Chinese poet Cui Gifu; this in particular was meant to illustrate the poem The Youth’s Song. Signed by Hokusai (‘Brushed by the former Hokusai, changing this name to Iitsu’). Published by Moriya Jihei. I believe that this print is part of a second run of prints following on the first run of the series; i. Still within the first edition of the print. I believe that the differences between this print and what is commonly reproduced as the first run of the print have to do with changes made by the artist and publisher to experiment with/improve the design ie more intense and heavier coloration, some shifting of color areas, and even some slight reworking of the block. At the very least. I believe that it is still close in time to the first run of the series because the pigments are correct for the period, the paper is of the thick mulberry type used during the 1830′s for ukiyo-e in Japan, and the censor’s seal has not changed. Certainly a lifetime print by the artist and publisher. The item “FIRST EDITION HOKUSAI JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINT YOUTHFUL PROGRESS” is in sale since Tuesday, May 30, 2017. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “zema1052″ and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Type: WOODBLOCK PRINT
• Primary Material: Paper
• Age: 1800-1849
• Region of Origin: Japan
• Original/Reproduction: Original