Bakufu: School of Higai Fish (First Edition) (Sold)

Artist: Ohno Bakufu (1888-1976)
Title: Higai (Trout?)
Series: Great Japanese Fish Picture Collection (Dai Nihon yorui gashu) (Volume 2)
Date: 1939, May
Publisher: Nishinomiya Shoin

First edition printing of a school of higai, their pink and yellow fins and tail providing a nice contrast to the aquatic floor beneath them. Bakufu Ohno designed 72 prints in his “Art Portfolio of Familiar Fishes of Nippon”, which was published by the Kyoto publisher Nishinomiya Shoin in five volumes between 1937 and 1941. Works from this series are highly appreciated for their attention to detail and the extremely high printing quality. Here the bellies and fins and tails of the fish have mica embellishments on very specific areas of each fish. The name “higai” seems to be a rather vague nomenclature in Japanese; this might be a type of trout. Later editions were printed by a different Kyoto publisher, but they lack the finesse of the first edition.

The woodblocks for the series were carved by Fujikawa Zosai and printed by two printers, Mitsumoto Joho and Negita Mannen. Each design was limited to an edition of 500  and the volumes were distributed under a subscription system.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Printed on heavy, deluxe paper. There is a minor raised bump in the heavy paper in the white above the fish
Dimensions: oban (27.7 x 39.9 cm) cm
Signed: Bakufu

Sealed: Carver's name "Fujikawa" and Printer's name "Mitsumoto" with a red seal, lower right corner. 

SKU: BAK010