This woodblock print depicts the gate of the Zojo-ji temple in a snowfall and was originally published in 1953. This edition was published from original blocks by Unsodo Publishing house. It is signed with the artist’s seal on the block and has the carver and publisher seals. The print is in Vertical Oban format with Image Size: 15″ x 10″. The print is in Excellent condition. It was kept in an envelope and was never framed or displayed. Please review the pictures. Born in the Asakusa section of Tokyo to a middle class family, Shiro Kasamatsu started his art studies at a young age. In 1911 he became a student of Kaburagi Kiyokata, a master of the bijin-ga genre. Shiro studied Japanese style painting (Nihonga) but unlike his teacher, he concentrated on landscapes. Shiro started his work with Shin hanga publisher Watanabe in the 1930s. His designs were mainly of landscapes, but also included bijin-ga, interiors, and Noh masks (one of his particular interests). Western collectors were especially attracted to his romantic landscapes depicting traditional Japanese life and landmarks. In 1939, Shiro designed the series Eight Views of Tokyo, but only four prints were completed. His relationship with Watanabe was nearing a close, probably because Watanabe did not give him the creative control that he desired. Shiro was intrigued by the independence of sosaku hanga printmakers who carved and printed their own designs. After World War II, he stopped working with Watanabe. However, it would be nearly a decade before Shiro began producing his own prints. In the meantime, he established a collaboration with Unsodo, a publisher in Kyoto, designing landscape and animal prints. Many of the prints published by Unsodo are quite striking and compare favorably with the Watanabe-published prints. By the late 1950′s, Shiro was ready to break out on his own. He began carving and printing his own designs in limited, numbered editions. He signed these prints himself in English. Although Shiro’s self-made prints lack the refined carving of his shin hanga designs, they have a simplicity and expressiveness that is very appealing. Shiro continued to create prints for several decades, but never promoted them through exhibitions or gallery affiliations. As a result, his self-carved prints were more a labor of love than a commercial success. The item “Vintage JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINT by Shiro Kasamatsu Zojoji Temple Shin Hanga” is in sale since Friday, August 3, 2018. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “woodblocks” and is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Region of Origin: Japan
• Age: 1900-1940
• Primary Material: Paper
• Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original
• Type: Painting, Scroll & Print