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Each print measures approximately
14 1/2 inches by 10 3/4 inches.
Primula KON66 $95
For a long time, we have admired
and collected works from Asia. Since our website has
become so large and eclectic, it seems time recognize
the great tradition of wood block prints, and the
enormous influence of Asian art on Western artists.
What better place to start than
this beautiful series of woodblock botanical prints by
Tanigami Konan (1879-1928). The work was to celebrate
the seasons, so there are exuberant selections from all
the seasons. It is called Seiyo Soka Zofu, or a
Pictorial Book of Western Flowers and was very carefully researched as it includes a huge variety of western flowers. Please note that these prints are all original authentic woodblock prints from the very rare 1917 edition.
The publication of these prints in
1917 was a very interesting time in Japanese print
making, when the old traditional ways of wood block
printing were giving way to new western print making
technologies such as lithography & photo mechanical
printing.
Artists and printers in Japan were
losing their living due to the changes & decided to
pursue the Western market, reformulating their art in
such a way that it would appeal to the Western eye and
taste. Heavily influenced by the Impressionist movement
in France, they incorporated light and shade into their
art along with Western concepts of perspective.
This new movement, named Shin
Hanga or “new prints” was started by artists,
but owes much of its success to the renowned publisher,
Shozaburo Watanabe (1885-1962), a keen businessman who
initially used Western artists living in Japan to
understand the art that appealed to the Western eye.
Shin Hanga was
immediately successful under the shrewd tutelage of this
astute businessman & flourished even through the great
Kanto earthquake of 1923, in which the Wantanabe print
shop and woodblocks were totally destroyed and over
140,000 people lost their lives. World War II brought a
halt to this flourishing business for a while, but the
American occupation renewed the interest in these
beautiful prints and many were sent home by the American
troops and Shin Hanga was introduced to
American homes nationwide.
The topics of the Shin Hanga
movement are universally appealing: botanicals,
landscapes, birds, animals and beautiful people, so we
are delighted to add them to our offerings. These
prints are particularly vivid and lush, with extravagant
displays of all the very best flowers - tulips, lilies,
daffodils, crocus, iris and all the numerous splendors
of the botanical world. It is definitely the abundant
style of the West versus the more restrained and elegant
style of the East. In Japan, an arrangement of five
flowers and a few leaves is considered very
satisfactory, whereas this would certainly be viewed as
a little sparse by most of us!
We accept credit cards & PayPal. Washington state residents pay Washington
state sales tax. Shipping for this item is $8.95. Items can be combined to save
on postage. International shipping is $25 for any number of prints and buyers
are responsible for all customs duties. Our environment is smoke free. We pack
professionally using only new materials. All items are beautifully wrapped and
suitable for sending directly as gifts. You may return any item within 7 days if
not satisfied. To order, you may call us at 1-888-PANTEEK, or send email to
panteek@aol.com
  
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