"SCENES OF THE KANSAI AREA" JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTS BY UCHIDA
Excellent group of ten Japanese woodblock prints, from a series of twelve entitled "Scenes of the Kansai Area", by KOTOZUKA EIICHI (1906-1979), and printed by the Uchida company of Kyoto, circa 1950. Each print measures 5" x 6 3/4", and is mounted in a 7" x 9 1/4" mat. The prints depict scenes from around the Kansai area in southern Japan, including the cities of Kyoto and Nara. They show a variety of temples, including Kiyomizu-dera and the Torii gate at the Heian Shrine, as well as modern city scenes, a view of a potter at work, and a night scene with women in traditional clothing. While many of the colors and themes are typical of traditional Japanese print making, the styles of dress and the architecture shown in some scenes highlight the modernity of the scenes, as does the loose, impressionistic brushwork. Each print bears the artist's printed signature and seal with the publisher's mark of Uchida. All bear a black ink "SAMPLE" stamp on the verso, as well as inscriptions in pencil identifying the set. One print is missing its mat cover, and most of the other covers are loose, else very good to fine.