Bakufu: Yellowtail (Hamachi) 魬 (SOLD)

Artist: Ohno Bakufu (1888-1976)
Title: Yellowtail (Hamachi) 魬(First Edition) 
Series: Great Japanese Fish Picture Collection 大日本魚類画集 (Dai Nihon yorui gashu) 
Date: 1939-1940  Publisher: Nishinomiya Shoin

First edition printing of three Japanese yellowtail (amberjack) streaming past in gorgeous formation. The black on the eyes has been specially printed to have a subtle gloss, and there is mica on the bodies of the fish as well as in the background of the ocean.  These fish are one of the most popular to be found on sushi menus, and are known for their delicious pink and red flesh. The artist has practically filled the page with these handsome fish, and we get a sense that these might be on the larger size of over one meter in length. One of the stongest designs in the series of an internationally prized fish.

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. This is number four from Volume Three.  Works from this series are highly appreciated for their attention to detail and the extremely high printing quality. Later editions were printed by a different Kyoto publisher (Kyoto-Hanga-In), but those works 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. 
Dimensions: oban (28 x 4033 cm)  Signed: Bakufu

Reference:  Art Portfolio of Fishes by Bakufu Ono by Reita Hirase, Akira Tomita, and Hiroko Shimizu, Tokyo Station Gallery, 2013.

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

SKU: BAK012