Title: Maejō (前城) Artist: Takagi Shirō (高木志朗，1934–1998) Medium: Woodblock Print Signature: Pencil signed by the artist Edition: Limited edition 135/200, pencil-marked Paper Size: 41 × 29.2 cm (16.14 × 11.50 in) Image Size: 34.8 × 24 cm (13.70 × 9.45 in) Paper: Washi (和紙) This exquisite traditional hand‑printed woodblock print (tezuri / 手摺) was created in 1971 by Takagi Shirō (高木志朗), a leading figure in the post‑war Japanese creative print movement (sōsaku‑hanga / 創作版画). Takagi dedicated himself to the traditional practice of self‑drawn, self‑carved, and self‑printed woodblock prints. His works were exhibited internationally at prestigious events including the Paris Biennale, and he received an award at the São Paulo Biennial in 1967. His artworks are held in important international collections such as the University of Oregon (USA), Lavenberg Collection, and Saru Gallery. This piece reinterprets the imagery of a traditional Japanese castle in a minimalist modern style. At the center stands a geometrically stylized three‑story Japanese keep with white walls and dark roofing, resting on a rugged stone wall whose texture is rendered in bold black‑and‑white grain. The striking vermilion gradient sky is typical of Takagi’s palette in the 1970s, creating a strong color contrast with the blue‑green landscape and water below, and evoking the dramatic atmosphere of dawn or dusk. Simplified pine trees and distant scenery on the left retain the symbolic character of traditional Japanese landscape aesthetics. The overall composition is clean, concise, and strongly modern, representing a contemporary interpretation of the classic castle theme. The lower left is pencil‑marked 135/200, indicating it is from a limited edition of 200 impressions. The lower right bears the artist’s autograph pencil signature S. Takagi, together with the title and year of creation. This piece shows traces of previous mounting. Due to its age, the washi paper displays natural aging such as slight toning. The overall condition is good. This work is sold unframed; the images are for display purposes only to show the effect after framing. Note: Delivery to Italy takes approximately 6–7 days. Customs or the courier may contact you for customs clearance. Kindly reply promptly, as delays may result in the package being returned. Contacting them directly can help speed up the process: dogane.malpensa.urp@agenziadogane.it Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. - The picture is part of the description. The color of the item may be slightly different from the picture (due to camera and screen settings). - The successful bidder will be responsible for any customs duties and taxes (if applicable). - This item will be mailed by the postal service of Taiwan in the form of airmail with insurance attached.