Japanese Woodblock Print, 1950s, published by Unsodo

SIZE IN INCHES: koban,7 x 5 inches

COMMENTS: Although there are many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples around Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine stands out as the one that brings out its beauty the best. This shrine has a 1,900 year old history, making it the oldest in Shiga Prefecture. Its most distinguishing feature is its torii gate. The large, vermillion-lacquered torii stand in the waters of the lake.

TAKEJI ASANO (1900-1999) was born in Kyoto. In 1919 he graduated from the Kyoto City School of Fine Arts and Crafts and then from the Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting in 1923. Among his Early Teachers was the artist and printmaker Tsuchida Bakusen. Asano helped to organize the Kyoto Creative Print Society (Kyoto Sosaku-Hanga Kyoka) in 1929.

In 1930, Asano along with other members of the Creative Print Society contributed several designs to a series of prints titled Creative Prints of Twelve Months in New Kyoto (Sosaku-hanga shin Kyoto junikagetsu), which were published by Uchida. He expanded his skills in print design as well as learning the skills of carving and printing which enabled him to create some self-carved and self-printed series of landscape prints. Many of his best prints were published by Unsodo.

VG, minor flaws as shown