Lake Toya in Hokkaido, another volcanic caldera lake, represents the northernmost reach of Asano's known subjects. The lake's central island and surrounding mountains create a dramatic composition that translates well to the woodblock format. Prices typically range from $150-$500, and Hokkaido subjects by Kyoto-based artists carry a certain novelty value among collectors.
Lake Toya in Hokkaido — a large circular caldera lake with an island group at its center, surrounded by mountains — is one of Asano's most northerly subjects, the Hokkaido landscape offering a quality of open, clear light quite different from the atmospheric subtlety of his Kyoto scenes. The lake's near-perfect circular form, a product of the volcanic caldera that created it, and the dramatic Showa Shinzan volcano visible on the eastern shore gave this northern landscape an elemental grandeur. His rendering would have honored both the lake's scenic beauty and its geological drama.
Nikko Chuzenjiko
1930
Color woodblock print; oban
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Niigata Gosaibori
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Lake Toya (洞爺湖) was created by Takeji Asano (浅野竹二).
Lake Toya uses Bokashi, Nishiki-e, and Moku-hanga, on woodblock print.
Lake Toya was published by Unsodo.
Lake Toya depicts rivers & lakes.
