Spring
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- wbp
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
Spring is a woodblock print addressing the first of Japan's four sharply defined seasons. Maeda Toshiro likely renders spring through its characteristic visual markers: cherry blossoms, fresh green growth, softened light, or figures in lighter clothing. The woodblock medium builds the season's palette through layered impressions, the pale pinks and greens of early spring requiring delicate ink mixtures and careful pressure to avoid overwhelming the paper. Spring in Japan is not a single event but a progression from plum blossom in February through cherry blossom in April, and the print captures some moment along that unfolding sequence.
