Ido Masao(井堂雅夫) Heisei Ukiyo-e – Kyoto One Hundred Views, Vol. 10 Imperial Palace Ten Views: “Yatsuhashi(八ッ橋), Sento Imperial Palace” Woodblock print / Publisher: Kaneido This beautiful woodblock print by Masao Ido depicts Yatsuhashi at the Sento Imperial Palace, one of the most refined gardens within Kyoto’s historic imperial grounds. It belongs to the tenth volume of Ido’s celebrated Kyoto Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of Kyoto) series, in which the artist recorded the cultural landscape of Kyoto through the traditional medium of Japanese woodblock printing. The Sento Imperial Palace was originally established in the early Edo period as a residence for retired emperors. Rather than emphasizing the monumental architecture associated with imperial authority, its garden was conceived as a place for quiet contemplation, seasonal appreciation, poetry, and elegant courtly recreation. Ido captures precisely this intimate side of imperial Kyoto. The composition is dominated by magnificent purple wisteria, cascading from the upper left like a curtain of flowers. Their long blossoms hang above the path and water, immediately creating the sensation of standing beneath the flowering vines on a calm spring day. Wisteria has a particularly deep connection with Japanese aesthetics. Celebrated in classical poetry for centuries, its gracefully descending blossoms have traditionally been admired as symbols of elegance and refinement. Here, their soft violet tones contrast beautifully with the fresh greens of the garden and the pale blue-green surface of the pond. Running beneath the wisteria is the Yatsuhashi, literally “eight-plank bridge,” a distinctive form of Japanese garden bridge traditionally constructed in an angular or segmented arrangement. The motif has appeared throughout Japanese literature and art for centuries and is especially associated with classical garden scenery. Beyond the bridge stretches the quiet pond of the Sento Imperial Palace. Reflections of trees and hints of color float across its surface, while carefully arranged stones, clipped shrubs, pines, and a traditional stone lantern appear along the opposite bank. Nothing is excessively dramatic. The beauty comes from balance—the Japanese garden principle of creating an apparently effortless harmony from elements that have actually been carefully considered and maintained over generations. ◆About Ido Masao(井堂雅夫)◆ Masao Ido is a leading contemporary woodblock artist based in Kyoto, and produced numerous woodblock prints from the Showa and Heisei eras. During Japan's postwar reconstruction period, he established his own unique style that combined a modern sense of composition and beautiful colors while inheriting the techniques of traditional ukiyo-e woodblock printing. After spending his childhood in Hiroshima, he moved to Kyoto and studied under woodblock artist Inao Uchida. Since the 1970s, he has established his own studio, the Kyoto Hanga-in, and has received high acclaim at solo exhibitions and exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. Awards and exhibitions (partial excerpt) 1976: First selected for the Nitten Exhibition 1980: Received the Nitten Special Award (unusual for a woodblock artist) 1987: Exhibited at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Exhibition 1990 and after: Solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, etc. Received the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award (posthumous award) His works are still held in many museums and public facilities in Japan, as well as in the collections of Japanese art lovers overseas. [Size of the artwork] Overall size 34.7×42.3cm Picture 24.5×34.9cm [Condition] Excellent condition. Please check the photos before bidding. Any taxes related to international shipping must be borne by the purchaser. ※Recently, there has been an increase in products being returned to Japan without paying customs duties and consumption tax upon receipt. It is the buyer's responsibility to pay customs duties and consumption tax, so please be sure to pay them. Tax rates vary by country, so please check in advance. Occasionally, customs or the delivery company in your country may contact you for customs clearance via phone or email. Kindly ensure you are available to respond. Failure to do so may result in the parcel being returned to me, incurring additional shipping fees for reshipment. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. I will pack the item securely, but there may be cases where the item is repackaged at customs or damaged upon arrival due to a mistake by the shipping company. If this happens, please contact me immediately. Please promptly send me a photo of the item when it arrives and a photo of the damage to the item. We will provide refunds depending on the situation.