'Hiragawa gate' - Kasamatsu Shiro 笠松紫浪 (1898-1991) - Published by Unsodo - Japan

Technique: Original woodblock print, Published by Unsodo
Artist: Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)
Titled: "Hiragawa gate"
Japan - Reiwa period (1989-2019)

This image/design by Shiro Kasamatsu was made for Publisher Unsodo in 1953.
They printed this until 1986.
On my request they reprinted it this winter from the original blocks made in 1953.
Never been framed.

Side information:
To get to this image, 10 woodblocks where carved. In total, the printing process requires 24 times of printing. This means, some blocks are use several times, within the printing process.
If you are interested, we made a short footage/film from a part off this process. Please ask us.

Shiro Kasamatsu was a student of Kaburagi Kiyokata. In the 1950s he published bird and animal prints, landscapes and "famous views" with the publisher Unsodo.
Alltogether more then 100. Shiro Kasamatsu worked in Shin Hanga and Sosaku Hanga style. (More modern)

In the lower right corner (outside the woodcut) you can see a small notch. This is the so-called "Kento", and characteristic on this site for the publisher Unsodo. Kento is the registration system traditionally used by Japanese makers of woodcuts to ensure that the different colors (each color is applied through a separate log) are properly aligned. See the picture.

Signed - Shiro, lower right in the print with red artist seal

Publisher: Unsodo

Carver: Nagashima

Printer: Mr. Nakayama

Shiro Kasamatsu is generally regarded as one of the top Shin Hanga woodcut artists in Japan.

The print will be send between hardboard and carton plates to prevent any damage in transport. Sending nearly worldwide, insured with tracking post.