Ido Masao(井堂雅夫) , "Six Views of Kyoto: Saga Village(嵯峨の里)" 1981 | Woodblock Print | Edition 101/150 This work, "Saga Village," is part of the "Six Views of Kyoto" series, which Ido created over many years. Produced in 1981, this original edition is the 101st of a limited run of 150 copies. The painting depicts the rural mountain landscape of Sagano, located west of Kyoto. Thatched-roof houses, rolling fields, budding trees, and mountain ranges in the distance— This depicts a Kyoto where people's lives and nature quietly coexist, unlike the temples, shrines, and scenic spots they occupy. While Sagano has flourished as a villa area for aristocrats since the Heian period, as times have changed, it has thrived as a village where agriculture and nature coexist. Masao Ido depicts Sagano not as a scenic spot, but as a place where the seasons change, people live, and tomorrow arrives. The angle of the roofs, the lines of the fields, the placement of the trees— all are forms that have been naturally established over a long period of time. The Six Views of Kyoto series attempts to portray the "complete picture of Kyoto" through its temples, mountains, villages, and four seasons. Of these, Saga Village is the work closest to everyday life, most teeming with people and where time flows most peacefully. In contrast to the glamorous sights, it symbolizes the "everyday scenery" that supports the city of Kyoto. In the morning, light shines on the fields, and the shadow of the mountain moves slowly. Nothing extraordinary happens. Yet, a new day has undoubtedly begun. This woodblock print gently captures on paper such "everyday happiness." ◆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] Overall size 30×41.6cm Picture 26×38cm [Condition] There are no noticeable scratches, but please note that this is an old piece and may have deteriorated over time. Please check the photos for details. 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.