Matsumoto captures the famous black castle in Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan's most photogenic surviving fortresses. Toshi Yoshida's rendering emphasizes the castle's distinctive dark walls reflected in the surrounding moat. Studio editions sell for $400-$1,100, and jizuri impressions command $800-$2,000. Castle subjects by the Yoshida family maintain consistent demand, and Matsumoto's dramatic appearance makes this a particularly desirable example.
Matsumoto — the castle city in the Nagano mountains, famous for its beautifully preserved sixteenth-century castle whose black and white exterior earned it the name "Crow Castle" — is depicted here in one of Yoshida's Japanese architectural subjects. The castle's reflection in its moat, the surrounding mountains, and the city's traditional streetscape gave Yoshida rich compositional material of the kind that drew him to Japanese historic architecture throughout his career. His treatment likely captures the castle in seasonal context, the mountains and surrounding landscape providing the natural setting that gives the composition its full pictorial depth.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Matsumoto was created by Toshi Yoshida (吉田遠志).
Matsumoto uses Nishiki-e, Moku-hanga, and Kento, on woodblock print.
Matsumoto was published by Yoshida Studio.
Matsumoto depicts castles, rivers & lakes, and architecture.
