Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 3

NARAZAKI EISHO
'Interior of the Kannon Temple at Asakusa' — Tokyo Landmark, Early Edition

1932

$1,850
£1,429.45
€1,652.57
CA$2,614.18
A$2,931.98
CHF 1,535.43
MX$35,626.43
NOK 19,497.43
SEK 18,484.94
DKK 12,335.60

About the Item

NARAZAKI EISHO (1864-1936), 'Asakusa Kannon-do no naido' (Interior of the Kannon Temple at Asakusa), color woodblock print, 1932. Signed Eisho lower right, with the artist’s red seal beneath. A fine impression with fresh colors; the full sheet with slight overall age toning, a drying tack hole in the upper left margin, in overall excellent condition. Vertical oban: image size 14 3/16 x 9 9/16 inches (360 x 243 mm); sheet size 15 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches (387 x 267 mm). Published by Watanabe Shozaburo. A rare first or early edition impression with the Watanabe publisher’s seal “C” (1929-1942) in the lower left margin and the title and date in the lower right margin. Collections: Harvard Art Museums, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Literature: 'Shin-Hanga: New Prints in Modern Japan,' Kendall Brown, Hollis Goodall-Cristante, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1996, p. 83, figure 113; 'Japanese Wood-block Prints,' Shizuya Fujikake, Japan Travel Bureau, 1938, p. 94, 95; 'The Legacy of Japanese Printmaking,' Barry Till, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1986, plate 62; 'Modern Japanese Prints: The Twentieth Century,' Amanda T. Zehnder, Carnegie Museum of Art, 2009, p. 132; 'Hanga ni miru Tokyo no fukei; Kanto daishinsai kara senzen made, Ota Kuritsu Kyodo Hakubutsukan,' 2002, pl. 213, p. 50. ABOUT THE IMAGE The scene depicted is of the interior of the Asakusa Kannon Temple on New Year’s Day. Large celebratory lanterns hang from the high ceiling; the one in the foreground bears a 17th-century Buddhist symbol. The Buddhist temple Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, is located in Asakusa, Tokyo. Completed in 645 AD, it is Tokyo's oldest temple and one of its most colorful and popular. ABOUT THE ARTIST Narazaki Eishō (1864-1936) was born in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Japan. He was a highly esteemed artist known for his mastery of the traditional Japanese woodblock print technique, ukiyo-e. Eishō's life and work spanned a transformative period in Japanese history, witnessing the transition from the Edo period to the Meiji era and the subsequent modernization of Japan. Eishō initially trained under the guidance of his father, Narazaki Kōgyo, a well-known artist and printmaker. Under his father's tutelage, Eishō honed his skills in woodblock printing and developed a deep appreciation for the rich artistic traditions of Japan. He demonstrated remarkable talent from a young age, quickly gaining recognition for his intricate designs and meticulous craftsmanship. As Japan underwent rapid modernization and cultural shifts during the Meiji era, Eishō remained committed to preserving and revitalizing the art of ukiyo-e, which was facing challenges from Western influences and changing tastes. He drew inspiration from classical ukiyo-e masters, such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, and contemporary trends in Japanese art, blending traditional techniques with innovative approaches. Eishō's prints, celebrated for their beauty, craftsmanship, and evocative portrayal of Japanese life and culture, encompassed various subjects, including landscapes, portraits, historical scenes, and depictions of kabuki actors and geisha. He demonstrated a keen eye for capturing the beauty and dynamism of everyday life in Japan, infusing his prints with vibrant colors, intricate details, and a sense of elegance and refinement. One of Eishō's notable achievements was his collaboration with the publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō, who played a pivotal role in the revival of ukiyo-e during the early 20th century. Together, they produced a series of prints featuring famous landmarks, scenic views, and traditional customs of Japan, which gained popularity both domestically and internationally. Throughout his career, Eishō remained dedicated to the preservation and promotion of ukiyo-e as a vital art form. He also contributed to the scholarly study of Japanese prints, publishing books and articles on the history and techniques of ukiyo-e. Eishō's prints are represented in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Museum of Art, Georgetown University, Harvard Art Museums, University of Wisconsin, The Lavenberg Collection of Japanese Prints, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  • Creator:
    NARAZAKI EISHO (1864 - 1936, Japanese)
  • Creation Year:
    1932
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14.188 in (36.04 cm)Width: 9.563 in (24.29 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 980481stDibs: LU532314168402

More From This Seller

View All
'Chion-in Temple Gate' from 'Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms' — Jizuri Seal
By Hiroshi Yoshida
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Hiroshi Yoshida, 'Chion-in Temple Gate (Sunset)' from the series 'Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms (Sakura hachi dai: Sakura mon)', color woodblock print, 1935. Signed in brush 'Yoshida' and in pencil 'Hiroshi Yoshida'. A superb, early impression, with fresh colors; the full sheet with margins, on cream Japan paper; an area of slight toning in the top right sheet corner, not affecting the image, otherwise in excellent condition. Marked with a jizuri (self-printed) seal, upper left margin. Self-published by the artist. Image size 9 5/8 x 14 3/4 inches (444 x 375 mm); sheet size 10 7/8 x 16 inches (276 x 406 mm). Archivally sleeved, unmatted. Provenance: M. Nakazawa, Tokyo. Literature: Japanese Landscapes of the 20th Century (Hotei Publishing calendar), 2001, May. Collections: Honolulu Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. ABOUT THE IMAGE Located in Kyoto, Chionin is the main temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism, one of the most popular Buddhist sects in Japan, having millions of followers. The Sanmon Gate, Chionin's entrance gate, standing 24 meters tall and 50 meters wide, it is the largest wooden temple gate in Japan and dates back to the early 1600s. Behind the gate, a broad set of stairs leads to the main temple grounds. ABOUT THE ARTIST Painter and printmaker Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the Japanese 'shin hanga' (New Print) movement. Yoshida was born as the second son of Ueda Tsukane in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, a schoolteacher from an old samurai family. In 1891 he was adopted by his art teacher Yoshida Kasaburo in Fukuoka and took his surname. In 1893 he went to Kyoto to study painting, and the following year to Tokyo to join Koyama Shotaro's Fudosha private school; he also became a member of the Meiji Fine Arts Society. These institutions taught and advocated Western-style painting, greatly influencing Yoshida’s artistic development. In 1899 Yoshida had his first American exhibition at Detroit Museum of Art (now Detroit Institute of Art), making the first of many visits to the US and Europe. In 1902 he helped reorganize the Meiji Fine Arts Society, renaming it the Taiheiyo-Gakai (Pacific Painting...
Category

1930s Showa Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

'Tokaido' — Mt. Fuji Rising – Mid-Nineteenth Century Woodblock Print
By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Utagawa Kunisada (Tokoyuni III), 'Tokaido', color woodblock, 1863. Signed in the cartouche, lower right. A fine impression, with rich, fresh colors and pronounced woodgrain, the full...
Category

1860s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

'Seven Actors in a Dragon Boat' — Edo period Kamigata Woodblock Print
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Munehiro Hasegawa, 'Seven Kabuki Actors in a Dragon Boat,' woodblock print, c. 1850, Osaka-e, Kamigata-e. Signed 'Munehiro' in the block, upper left. A fine impression with fresh co...
Category

Mid-19th Century Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Hagoromo - Noh
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Matsuno Sofu (1899-1963), 'Hagoromo - Noh', woodblock print, 1937. Signed 'Sofu' with the artist's seal, lower right. A fine impression, with fresh color...
Category

1930s Showa Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Japanese Kimono Fabric Design — Vintage Color Woodblock Print
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Anonymous, Japanese Kimono Fabric Design, color woodcut, c. 1930. A superb impression, with fresh colors, fine graduations, and metallic gold motifs, on ...
Category

Early 1900s Showa Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni in Suo Province (Suo iwakuni kintai-bashi), 1859
By Hiroshige II
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Utagawa Hiroshige II (1829-1869), 'Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni in Suo Province' (Suo iwakuni kintai-bashi), from the series 'One Hundred Views of Famous Pla...
Category

1850s Edo Landscape Prints

Materials

Woodcut

You May Also Like

Japanese Wood Block Print Interior of Asakusa Temple by Eisho Narazaki
Located in Atlanta, GA
Japanese Wood Block Print Artist: Eisho Narazaki (1864-1936) Title: Asakusa Kannon-do no naido (Interior of the Kannon Temple at Asakusa) Year of Creation: 1932 Pencil marked title ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Paper

"The Kaminarimon at the Kanseon Temple in Asakusa" - Original Japanese Print
Located in Soquel, CA
"The Kaminarimon at the Kanseon Temple in Asakusa" - Original Japanese Print Japanese Print "The Kaminarimon at the Kanseon Temple in Asakusa", from the series "Famous Places in Ed...
Category

1850s Showa Figurative Prints

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Old Japanese Wood block print Shiro Kasamatsu. Lantern of Asakusa Kannon-do
Located in Niiza, JP
Print size: 245 x 360 mm Sheet size: 270 x 385 mm Exterior: 330 x 480 mm A masterpiece by woodblock artist Shirou Kasamatsu 笠松紫浪 "Large Lantern of the Asakusa Kannon-do" 「浅草観音堂大提灯」 ...
Category

20th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

The Temple - Woodcut Print After Mizuno Toshikata - Early 20th Century
By Mizuno Toshikata
Located in Roma, IT
The temple is an artwork realized by Mizuno Toshikata (1866-1908). Woodcut print, early 20th Century. 33 x 43 cm with frame. Good conditions
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Woodcut

Japanese Antiques Shiro Kasamatsu. Large lantern of Asakusa Kannon-do. Woodblock
Located in Niiza, JP
Rare original framed woodblock print by Shiro Kasamatsu 笠松紫浪. Large lantern of Asakusa Kannon-do. 浅草観音堂大提灯 Woodblock print. Publisher: Watanabe Woodblock Print Shop, Ginza, Tokyo. 版...
Category

20th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Paper

"Pictures Of Noh" - 1922 Original Japanese Woodblock Print
Located in Soquel, CA
"Pictures Of Noh" - 1922 Original Japanese Woodblock Print Original Japanese woodblock print by Tsukioka Kogyo (Japanese, 1869-1927...
Category

1920s Edo Figurative Prints

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut