HIROSHIGE Japanese Woodblock Print WOMAN & LANTERN '20s

HIROSHIGE Japanese Woodblock Print WOMAN & LANTERN '20s ANDO HIROSHIGE Woman in a Gown by a Lantern Date: c. 1910s; published by Kobayashi Bunshichi (1864 - 1923) mentor of Watanabe Shozaburo. In 1902, at the age of 17, Watanabe Shozaburo found his life's calling. When the pawn shop w he was previously employed went bankrupt, he fell into a position in a branch store, in Yokohama, of the ukiyo-e dealer Kobayashi Bunshichi. Infatuated by this new world, he was very quick to become a connoisseur of ukiyo-e. One of his responsibilities was to oversee the reproduction of Hiroshige and Harunobu prints from the original blocks. In 1906 Watanabe founded his own business and of course went on to publish many of the finest 20th century Japanese woodblock artists (see Muller bio below for more information) Size: approx. 3.6" x 8.8" Condition: VG, uncirculated print, never framed, minor toning but overall very good condition Impression: VG, excellent registration, solid key lines, and surface texture Color: Fine, deep saturated color and bleed through to verso Provenance: from the Collection of Robert O. Muller (see below for more information) A marvelous little Hiroshige vignette from the early 20th century, printed on thin tissue-like paper. WHO WAS ROBERT O. MULLER? Robert O. Muller’s love affair with Japanese prints began one day in the 1930s, when as a student in New York City he spotted a Hasui in a gallery window, and immediately arranged to purchase the print. As a newly wed in 1940 he went on a print shopping tour to Japan with his wife w he met the shin hanga publisher Watanabe Shozaburo and Watanabe’s stable of artists including: Kawase Hasui, Shiro Kasamatsu, and Ito Shinsui. He also met and befriended Hiroshi Yoshida. After WWII, Muller continued to deal in Japanese prints, but he was also an avid collector with a keen eye for good art. Although the Muller Collection is best known for shin hanga, Mr. Muller also collected late nineteenth century prints and good reproductions of famous Edo masters. When Mr. Muller passed away on April 10, 2003, he had left possibly the largest and finest collection of 20th century Japanese prints in the world, and the question of what would become of his notorious collection was a major topic among Japanese print collectors. The finest 20th century prints from his collection were given as a gift to the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and an exhibit was mounted. Other portions of the collection were sold at auction and still more remains with his heirs. Several books have been published about the collection. VISIT OUR EBAY STORE FOR MORE WOODBLOCK PRINTS AND BOOKS ABOUT WOODBLOCK ARTISTS Please feel free to email us through the eBay message system with any questions. WE PREFER PAYPAL, but in the event that you do not have a Paypal account we will accept payment through the mail. Items will be shipped only to the address on the eBay account. State of Georgia residents are required to pay 7.75% sales tax. International If payment has not been received within 10 days of the end of the purchase, a Non-Paying Bidder report will be filed with eBay. SHIPPING - Domestic shipping/handling is $9.75. Domestic buyers may combine prints (sorry NOT BOOKS or books with prints) purchased within a 7-day period. Additional prints shipped domestically are $1.50 each. International shipping costs are listed on the auction page, and additional prints shipped internationally are $2.50 each. When combining prints into one shipment the highest shipping rate applies plus any additional item fees as listed on the auction page. Seller is not responsible for any customs fees or VAT that may be incurred by international buyers. RETURNS - We try to present each item accurately. If you have a question, please contact us through the eBay message system for clarification prior to bidding. If you are unhappy with your print for any reason, you may return it within seven... read more