Oiwa Chuichi: The Coast at Morozaki (Morozaki kaigan) (Aichi) 志崎海岸

Artist: Oiwa Chuichi 大岩忠一 (1891-1939)

Title: The Coast at Morozaki (Morozaki kaigan) (Aichi)  志崎海岸  Date: 1939

Series: 100 Views of New Japan 新日本百景 (Shin Nihon Hyakkei)

Truncated cliffs at left transition to several rocky islets which then lead to open sea at right. The rocks themselves are colored a deep orange, perhaps reflecting an unseen setting sun. Oiwa Chuichi was born in Aichi prefecture, where this view was captured. He was an elementary school principal who was active in art education. The artist actually manages to communicate quite a bit with his rather abbreviated style of representation here.

Thirty-three artists contributed to this planned series of one hundred works, all members of the Nihon Hanga Kyôkai (Japan Woodblock Print Association). The first work was produced in December of 1938, and the series was halted after publishing  thirty-nine works, in 1941. There were two artist/editors of the set: numbers 1-9 were by Fujimori Shizuo and Maekawa Senpan took over for numbers 10-39. According to the Art Gallery of New South Wales website, publication of this series was stopped by the Japanese authorities during WWII because they feared that the interior of Japan would become known to its enemies. This would not be surprising given the paranoia of wartime, but it is also probable that there were other factors, including limited supplies and artists conscripted into the war machine. 

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Never framed. The artist’s name has been written in pencil lower right margin, but it is not known if this was written by the artist himself.

Literature: See British Museum website, Honolulu Museum of Art

 Dimensions: 25 x 33.2 cm

SKU: SNH022