Yoshimitsu: The Daimonji seen from Nijô Bridge 京洛名所: 二條橋より大文字を望む

Artist: Nomura Yoshimitsu (1870-1958)
Title: The Daimonji seen from Nijô Bridge 京洛名所: 二條橋より大文字を望む Nijô-bashi yori Daimonji o nozomu. Series: Famous places of Kyoto (Kyoraku meisho)
Date: 1930

A festive crowd that is diverse in age and dress has gathered to watch the traditional burning of the “dai” (great) kanji on the slope of Mount Daimonji (Nyoigadake) in Kyoto. This occurred annually in August at the closing ceremony of the Obon festival.  Far left we see a woman dressed in “moga” clothing; a flapper-syle western dress with a short haircut. She walks next to a woman in traditional kimono. At right the light glows from a red lamp onto the figure of a noodle vendor, who seems to be serving a portion to two children. The Japanese men wear a mixture of traditional robes and western hats, and one man watching the hillside at center wears a green suit; he is arm in arm with a woman wearing a western dress and hat.  The feeling is of a warmly celebratory summer night, and the gathering is happily child-friendly. The play of darkness and light is reminiscent of Kiyochika, with the lights reflecting on the village crowd and the mixed attire of the period. Despite the telephone poles in the distance, the feeling is of a timeless, pre-industrial Japan. The subtle puff of smoke in the dark sky above the flames and the subtle baren-suji swirls on the mountain are evidence of the expertise of the printers of the period. From the first limited edition, with the seal verso that is numbered 99/200. Yoshimitsu also studied European painting, which is evident here in his handling of light and shadow.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. 
Dimensions: horizontal ôban (24.8 x 38.6 cm)
Publisher: Sankô kai (Sato Shôtarô)
Signature: Yoshimitsu

SKU: YOM015