Posted 6 years ago
difinitive
(14 items)
Here is a good story of a woodblock print l found at a Goodwill Store in San Antonio laying on top of a lots of items. Lucky, I saved it from getting crushed. At first I thought it was a comic drawing, but later learned it was a rare woodblock print. After researching the print l found out that it is a certified block print reproduction of Ichikawa Komazo ll. It was reproduced in the early 20th century by the Tokyo National Museum utilizing the original woodblocks made by Kuniyoshi in the early 19th century. It was the last time they used the woodblocks because they were destroyed by the war. Ichikawa Komazo ll was originally created in the late 18th century by Toshusai Sharaku. Kuniyoshi decided to reproduce his art work in the early 1800's utilizing the most talented individuals in order to create a more detail, colorful, and spirited artistic look with the best materials that were being used in that specific time frame. He took the art work to a higher level. After that other artist try to reproduce Kuniyoshi’s work, but none compare to his original work. By the early 1900's most of his art work had been destroyed and the ones that survived were in poor shape. This is why the Tokyo National Museum decided to reproduce Kuniyoshi’s work. They did it before the war which is why you could never reproduce this specific block print any more. It is a museum quality reproduction that details the work of the old masters. Even though Sharaku's original art work is worth more, this specific art work is the one that most collectors or museums would like to have because it displays the work of the old masters. A block print which you can not truly print again. The block print carries a certified Tokyo National Museum stamp on the right lower corner. The Tokyo National Museum replied by e-mail that they in fact had reproduce several, but were not aware of any other surviving block prints which makes this print very rare print. Another rare find.