Moon and Cherry Blossoms
by Ido Masao
Description
Moon and Cherry Blossoms combines two of the most potent symbols in Japanese aesthetics: the moon, associated with autumn contemplation and Buddhist philosophy, and cherry blossoms, the iconic emblem of spring's fleeting beauty. The pairing of these two seasonal markers in a single image creates a poetic condensation, bringing together phenomena that in nature are separated by half a year. Ido Masao renders this conjunction in the oban woodblock format, where the moonlight's silver glow and the cherry blossoms' pale pink can be achieved through careful ink mixing and the graduated printing technique known as bokashi. The night setting allows the blossoms to be lit by moonlight rather than sunlight, transforming their familiar daytime appearance into something more mysterious and contemplative.
More Prints by Ido Masao
More Cherry Blossoms Prints
Kumoi Cherry Trees (Kumoi sakura)
Kumoi sakura
1926
Color woodblock print
Hirosaki Castle, from the series "Eight Views of Cherry Blossoms"
1935
Color woodblock print
Chion-in Temple Gate (Romon), from the series Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms (Sakura hachidai)
Romon
1935
Color woodblock print
Cherry Blossoms at Maruyama Park
円山公園桜
Woodblock print
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moon and Cherry Blossoms was created by Ido Masao (井堂雅夫).
Moon and Cherry Blossoms depicts cherry blossoms, moonlight, and night scenes.