Takeji Asano - Born in Kyoto, Takeji Asano worked in both the shin-hanga and sosaku hanga Japanese woodblock print traditions. He studied Western and Japanese painting, and became interested in woodblock prints after taking a class with Hiratsuka Un'ichi, one of the founders of the sosaku hanga or creative print movement. In 1929, he helped form the Kyoto Creative Print Society. After WWII, he created many woodblocks of scenery and famous sites in and around Kyoto in various seasons. In addition to designing shin-hanga series for Uchida and Unsodo, he also published his own works. His colorful sosaku hanga woodblocks, self-carved and self-printed, have a real graphic appeal, with bold line work, sweeping views, and handsome compositions. Asano's prints are a great choice for the modern collector, and make attractive framed displays.

Moonlight in Mii Temple, 1952 - Beautiful view of Mii Temple beneath a full moon, the structure in gray shadow framing the scene at left. At lower right, a single figure looks out over the water as clouds edges with yellow light drift across the night sky. Lovely detail in the architecture and the handling of the shadows falling across the pavement. A rare first edition printing with the date of 1952 printed in lower left margin. The first time we've offered this atmospheric design.

Publisher - Unsodo, with publisher's seal in left margin

Artist - Takeji Asano (1900 - 1999)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Remnants of paper hinge mounts on reverse at top corners. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Good overall.