Japanese Woodblock Print, 1932, 1st edition (with Watanabe "C" type seal),

SIZE IN INCHES: 15.25 x 10.25 inches

COMMENTS:

In this design, we find a traveler crossing a roaring stream on a bridge made from a fallen log deep in the wilderness, near the mountains. Takashi Ito has provided the viewer with a rare glimpse of the great interior of Japan, where the magic of the budding spring arrives, but only few catch a glimpse of it. The lone traveler in Ito's design is dwarfed by the grandeur of the mountains and trees surrounding him. A sound is conjured by Ito's depiction of the active stream at the lower center of the design—luring the traveler and viewer forward and deeper into the wilderness.

This print bears the Watanabe "C" type seal at the lower right margin, indicative of the first state printing of this design. It is executed with a lighter, more subtle coloration which also supports this early attribution. Later impressions have a stronger, harsher palette that understates the artist's original sense of light and shadow. This work is in an exceptional state of preservation, as it has never been framed or displayed for extended periods. The colors are pristine, and the impression is exceptional.

VG, no flaws