Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei), 1871-1945
Rain on Izumi Bridge
(Izumibashi no Ame)
the title at left, Izumibashi no ame, followed by the artist's seal, Shotei, published by Watanabe Shozaburo, post 1923
otanzaku yoko-e 6 3/4 by 15 in., 17.2 by 38.2 cm
In 1923, Watanabe's firm, renamed Watanabe Mokuhangaha or Watanabe Hangaten (Watanabe Woodblock Print Shop) in 1909, was destroyed in the fires following the Great Kanto Earthquake (like that of his former employer Kobayashi). All of his stock and woodblocks were lost, including all the designs already produced by Shotei. Watanabe managed to return to business and some designs, including this one, were re-cut and published. Often the new version had some small design change from the pre-earthquake version, as it is the nature of ukiyo-e process to constantly adjust, tweak, and improve the prints.
References:
Amy Reigle Stephens, gen. ed., The new wave: Twentieth-century Japanese prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection, 1993, p. 111, pl. 86
DHauterives, Arnaud, La nouvelle vague: Lestampe japonaise de 1868-1939 dans la Collection Robert O. Muller, Musée Marmottan, Institute de France, Académie des Beaux-Arts, 1994, p. 42, pl. 62
Hisao Shimizu, Syotei (Hiroaki) Takahashi, 2005, p. 42, pl. 85 (see pl. 84 for 1909 version)
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