Japanese Woodblock Print, 1920s by Hasegawa/Nishinomiya, with Nishinomiya publisher's seal in the right margin; listed as number 1106 in Hasegawa's 1930 catalog

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, approx 15.5 x 10.25 inches

PROVENANCE: From the Robert O. Muller estate.

COMMENTS: In Koho's oban-sized woodblocks he often packed most of the information into one of the corners of the design as can be seen in this depiction of cherry blossoms and a sudden rain storm. Most of the rendering is to be found in the lower right corner of the design where rain soaked travelers scurry to take cover under a temple entrance gate bracketed by willow trees being tossed by the wind.

SHODA KOHO (1871-1946) was a Japanese woodblock print artist working with the Hasegawa Print Co. (later called Nishinomiya Print Co). He primarily produced landscape prints in the shin-hanga style. Little is known about his personal life, and even the dates of his birth and death are not certain. However, his work can be dated to the decade of 1910 to 1920. His work was largely unknow until the early 2000's when after the death of Robert O. Muller (the most important American Japanese Woodblock print collector and purveyor of the 20th century) a large number of Koho's print designs were discovered in Muller's estate.

VG, no flaws of note