Key value factors: Edition order (first Watanabe/Doi printing vs. posthumous reprints) is crucial. Snow scenes, night views, and bijin-ga typically command premiums. Publisher seals and artist signatures authenticate first editions.
This untitled print by Komori Soseki continues his exploration of natural subjects through woodblock technique. Soseki's prints were produced during the shin-hanga revival, when publishers sought to prove that traditional Japanese printmaking could remain vital in the modern era by commissioning new designs from trained artists. The production involved hand-carving separate blocks for each color in the image, then printing them in sequence onto moistened paper using a hand-held baren for pressure. Soseki's designs suited this labor-intensive process, their careful compositions and limited palettes allowing carvers and printers to achieve the highest quality in each impression. The result is work that rewards close examination.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Untitled (soseki-komori) was created by Komori Soseki (小森漱石).
Untitled (soseki-komori) depicts birds & flowers, rivers & lakes, and abstract.
