Kishio Koizumi: Mount Fuji from Ohatano 大泰野の不二 (SOLD)

Artist: Kishio Koizumi (1893-1945)
Title: Mount Fuji from Ohatano 大泰野の不二  Date: 1943

Series: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, the Holy Mountain 聖峰富岳三十六景の内

Springtime view of Mount Fuji, with striped fields of bright green and yellow in the foreground, followed by rows of trees and the outlines of roofs, and then the great mountain rising against a blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds. We see a cow in the foreground as well as blooming cherry trees popping up amidst the landscape. Regarding the place name, there is now only a golf course with the name Ohatano, and Ohatano Station has been renamed Hadano Station, which is located in Kanagawa.

It’s not surprising that Mount Fuji is the subject of this wartime series, as it had long existed as a unifying symbol of the country, and during wartime it was also used to promote nationalism. Print artists during the war would have to have aligned themselves with national goals in order for paper and print-making supplies to be allocated to them. Today we only see the creativity and not the politics of these scenes capturing the beautiful mountain.

This is from the first edition, with the title series and date and pencil signature along right margin. There also exist later editions without the information in the right margin. Koizumi began designing this series in 1940, and he completed 23 of the planned prints when he relocated to his in-laws’ home in Saitama, outside of Tokyo, in 1945. He passed away on December of 1945.  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. 

Dimensions: 30.3 x 39 cm  Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.

SKU: KZK017