Untitled (inuzuka-taisui)

Part of the untitled contingent in Inuzuka Taisui's catalog, this woodblock print belongs to the kacho-e tradition that the artist practiced throughout his career. The shin-hanga publishers who commissioned these prints typically issued them in limited editions, though the exact print run for Taisui's works is not well documented. Unlike the large editions common in Edo-period ukiyo-e, shin-hanga prints were produced in smaller quantities to maintain quality and collectibility, with the blocks capable of producing roughly two hundred high-quality impressions before the fine lines began to degrade. Each impression was a handmade object, with subtle variations in color intensity and registration that make every print unique despite their common origin on the same set of carved blocks.