Ki-no-Matsushima, the pine-covered islands near Wakayama, evoke the famous Matsushima in Miyagi but with a distinctly Kansai-region character. Asano's rendering of the scattered pine islands against open water demonstrates his comfort with broad, open compositions. This print typically commands $150-$500 on the secondary market.
Ki no Matsushima Islands — the "Matsushima of Kii Province" on the Wakayama coast — references the famous pine-covered island scenery that echoed the more celebrated Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. The Kii coast's rocky islets draped with wind-shaped pines created a seascape of considerable beauty and formal interest, the small islands distributed across the water in arrangements that composed naturally into printable scenes. Asano's rendering would have captured the specific quality of light and color on this Pacific coast.
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Woodblock print
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Ki no Matsushima Islands was created by Takeji Asano (浅野竹二).
Ki no Matsushima Islands uses Bokashi, Nishiki-e, and Moku-hanga, on woodblock print.
Ki no Matsushima Islands was published by Unsodo.
Ki no Matsushima Islands depicts landscapes, seascapes, and trees, set at Matsushima.
