Hiroshi Yoshida 吉田博: Hirosaki Castle 櫻八題　弘前城 (Sold)

Artist: Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950)
Title: Hirosaki Castle　弘前城  Date: 1935
Series: Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms 櫻八題 (Sakura hachidai)

Our view of the Hirosaki castle tower is almost completely obscured by boughs that are laden with cherry blossoms. We see the distinctive silhouette above its moat, pink blossoms hanging heavily down. Hirosaki Castle was home to the Tsuguru clan, and was built in 1611 b Tsugaru Nobumaki. The tower, three turrets and five gates have been designated as Important Cultural Properties. The castle and its grounds, today’s Hirosaki Park, is considered one of the top sites in Japan to view cherry blossoms, as it features more than 2600 cherry trees. This work was apparently created using zinc plates instead of woodblocks, as Yoshida was experimenting with methods to create ever more intricate designs. 

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. One tiny spot at very bottom of left margin. Dimensions: ôban (40.1 x 27.2 cm)
Publisher: Self-published by the artist.
Literature:

Ogura, Yoshida Hiroshi Zenhangashu (The Complete Woodblock Prints of Hiroshi Yoshida), Abe Shuppan, Tokyo, 1987, pl.192. Brown, Kendall H., et. al., A Japanese Legacy: Four Generations of Yoshida Family Artists, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2002, p. 65, no. 40 Koyama Shuko, Beautiful Shin Hanga- Revitalization of Ukiyo-e, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum, 2009, p. 90, no. 2-65 See MFA Boston, Honolulu Museum of Art collections. 
Seal: Jizuri (“self-printed”) in ink
Signature: Yoshida in ink (Japanese) and Hiroshi Yoshida in pencil (Romaji)

SKU: YOS239