Black Pine

Date:: 20th century
Medium:: Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Dimensions:: 27.3 × 39.7 cm
Source:: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Typical Price

Key value factors: As self-carved and self-printed works, sosaku-hanga value is tied to the artist's reputation and edition size. Larger formats, earlier editions, and historically significant works command the highest prices.

Common examples: $100–$500
Good impressions: $500–$2,000
Premium/scarce: $2,000–$10,000

Description

A black pine (kuro-matsu, Pinus thunbergii) rendered in ink and color on paper — Aoyama Masaharu's treatment of this quintessentially Japanese tree subject. The Japanese black pine has been cultivated and painted for centuries: it is the primary species in traditional bonsai, the signature tree of Japan's coastal landscapes, and a recurring subject in ink painting and woodblock printing alike. The "20th century" dating without a more specific year range suggests this work was produced during Aoyama's mature period, when his technical mastery was fully developed and his command of traditional Japanese painting subjects was at its greatest.