Kitamura Imazo: Hanshin Park in Autumn (RESERVED)

Artist: Kitamura Imazo 北村今三 (1900-1946)

Title: Hanshin Park 阪神パーク (Hanshin Paaku)  Date: 1939, May

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

In the foreground are hatted men gesturing with excitement; are they dazzled by the monkeys or are they cheering on the people on the ride that flies to the right? This is Hanshin Park in Nishinomiya, a spectator’s view overlooking a primate exhibit and an amusement park ride that seems to feature flying planes to the right. This amusement park included electrical amusement rides as well as an aquarium and zoo, and was adjacent to a horse-racing track. The park was soon repurposed for military purposes as the war progressed. Somehow the simplicity of the carving fits perfectly with the childlike atmosphere of the scene. A scarce design, as with all works from this series.

Kitamura Imazô formed the Sankokai in Kobe with Kawanishi Hide and Harumura Tadao. Merritt notes that his style is characterized by simple carving and that he was strongly influenced by Kawanishi Hide. He died towards the end of World War II.

More than thirty sosaku-hanga print artists collaborated to create this series of prints, published between 1938-41, as regional conflicts eventually ignited into World War II. Only 39 were ever issued; the last 29 were edited by Maekawa Senpan. According to the Art Gallery of New South Wales website, publication of this series was stopped by the Japanese authorities during WWII who 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.

The series title is stamped on the right margin in red, and the name of the artist’s group “Nihon Hanga Kyokai sen” ("Selected by the Japanese Print Association") is stamped lower left. 

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Never framed. The artist’s name has been written in pencil lower right margin, but it is probable that this was written by someone other than the artist.

Literature: See Carnegie Museum of Art 89.28.713.13, British Museum, Art Gallery of NSW online collections.  Dimensions: 24.9 x 32.3 cm 

Signed: Imazo

SKU: SNH014