Kishio Koizumi: Hoshifuri (Falling Star) Pine Tree at Zenyoji Temple

Artist: Kishio Koizumi (1893-1945)
Title: Hoshifuri (Falling Star) Pine Tree at Zenyoji Temple  Date: 1935

An ancient pine is shown against a deep blue sky, its branches filling the page. Shown spreading in the foreground is the famous Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) that is more than 600 years old in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo. Its thick branches extend out shelflike almost 100 feet on each side of the trunk, and it was designated a natural monument of Tokyo in 1926. Here we see the careful supports constructed to bear the weight of its branches. It is also known as “Yogo-no-matsu”, or ”God-manifesting pine”. It stands on the grounds of Seijusan Jizoin Zenyoji Temple along the Edogawa River in Tokyo.

Koizumi Kishio  self-published 100 designs in this very interesting series, although it took nine years to complete after the first work was published in 1928 in the aftermath of the 1923 earthquake and the re-imagining of Tokyo. All works were self-carved and self-printed, within the ethos of the sosaku hanga movement.  Koizumi was one of only two sosaku hanga artists (the other being Hiratsuka) to have received extensive training in woodblock carving from a professional block-carver. In general the designs are very strong, and have a fresh perspective that is distinctive to this series. These works were sold by subscription club, which the artist declared to be limited to 50 members. Quite scarce. This is number 64 in the series. On the right edge is the title of the series as well as the date, tenth year, 6th month. We recommend the article by James Ulak on MIT’s Visualizing Cultures website on this series, which gives terrific analysis and background information in regards to the historical and cultural backdrop of the period.

Series: One Hundred Pictures of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era 昭和大東京百図絵版画 
Dimensions: 39.2 x 30.2 cm  
Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition. With some creasing to the left margin and light toning to verso.

Signature: Izumi in kanji and Koizumi Kisio in block Roman letters.

References: See The Art Institute of Chicago, University of Oregon museum collections. James Ulak et al., Tokyo: The Imperial Capital, Woodblock Prints by Koizumi Kishio, 2003. All the works may be viewed on the MIT Visualizing Cultures website. : https://visualizingcultures.mit.edu/tokyo_modern_02/gallery_100_views/index.htm

SKU: KZK016