Yoshida, Hiroshi (1876 - 1950), "Fujiyama from Kawaguchi Lake"

Notes: A special early color state of one of the most prized Yoshida snow designs from the series, "Ten Views of Fuji". Yoshida notes in his 1939 book that 8 different blocks and 33 impressions were used. The Yoshida Family stated that fewer than 100 examples of this design were printed. Brush signature, with "mihon" (sample) seal in lieu of jizuri seal. Over-sized dai-oban format. Blind-stamped embossing outlining the snow in the foreground and on Mt. Fuji.

"With Hokusai's famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji in mind, Hiroshi made his own series titled, Ten Views of Fuji to show the majestic beauty of Japan's highest mountain. In the series, the large-sized 'First Light of The Sun' and mid-sized 'Lake Kawaguchi', are the masterpieces of the group and noted for their great technical precision." - A Japanese Legacy, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts; pg. 50.

Hiroshi had a deep attachment to mountains as subject matter. He spent summers climbing and painting the Japan Alps, making many size-twelve paintings (60.6 x 45.5 cm), the biggest canvases he could carry with him, and sometimes translated those images into even larger works back in the studio.