Very little is known about the majority of the pre-war Japanese watercolour artists. It is generally accepted that the producers of early Japanese watercolours (from late Meiji to early Showa) studied the Western-style watercolour technique, with many artists also having a Western-style education. In most cases the artists signed their names in the usual Western way using Roman letters. Despite the fact that most were superbly talented artists, their paintings can be obtained very inexpensively at auction. Artists represented here include R. Aoki, H. Fukaya, S. Hodo, S. Ishida (Shigeburo?), Yuhan Ito, Eika Kato, Kyoha, T. Masami, M. Matsu, Matsumoto, J. R. Ozawa, S. Niimi, H. Saito, Emiko Satsuta, K. Seki, T. Seki, Shuho, E. Terada, Fukutaro Terauchi, S. Tosuke, T. Tosuke, I. Yamanoi, T. E. Yanagiwara, Tasuke (G.T.) Yokouchi, A. Yoshida. |
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Artists' Bibliography and NotesI often receive emails from collectors requesting more information on Japanese watercolour artists. Apart from the information listed below, I have unfortunately no other information. I am always interested in receiving new information, in particular information on the dates of watercolour purchases, etc.
S. Ishida
E. Kato
M. Matsu
Emiko Satsuta
Yamanoi
T. E. Yanagiwara
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Miscellaneous Artists 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Aoki (watercolour artist) Title: Boats On Lake Near Fuji Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Aoki R (watercolour artist) Title: Boat Ride On River Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Early Spring at Sumida River Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Kabuki-za Theatre Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Moonlight at Shimbashi Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Moonlight Over Shinobazu Pond Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Sengakuji Temple in Rain Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Snow at Tsukudashima Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Snow at Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Spring Colours at Sakurada Gate Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Spring Rain at Benkei Bridge Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Asano, Takeji Title: Twilight at Zojoji Temple Series: Famous Places in Tokyo Date: 1956-57
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Artist: Fukaya, H (watercolour artist) Title: Coastal View At Sunrise Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Fukaya, H (watercolour artist) Title: Flowing River Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Fukaya, H (watercolour artist) Title: Mt Fuji and Spring Cherry Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Hiroshi (watercolour artist) Title: Boat on Lake by Mt Fuji Date: 1900s
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Artist: Ishida Shigesaburo (watercolour) Title: Farm by Stream and Bamboo Grove Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Kason R (early 1900s watercolour artist) Title: Misty Lake Scene Date: 1900s
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Artist: Kato Eika (watercolour) Title: Evening Riverside Market Scene Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Kato Eika (watercolour) Title: Rice Cutter on a Bridge in Autumn Date: 1930s
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Artist: Kawashima, Minoru Title: The Village, Kyoto Date: 1940s/50s
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Artist: Kenyu T (watercolour artist) Title: Boat on Lake in Autumn Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Kobayashi Tokusaburo (watercolour painter) Title: Autumn Tints Date: 1910s/20s
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Artist: Kobayashi Tokusaburo (watercolour painter) Title: Farmhouse Flowers in the Evening Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Kondo (watercolour artist) Title: Fuji in Full Spring Date: 1940s
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Artist: Kondo (watercolour artist) Title: River Stream in Full Autumn Date: 1940s
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Artist: Masami T (watercolour) Title: Fishermen Returning Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Masami T (watercolour) Title: Miyajima At Low Tide Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Masami T (watercolour) Title: Mt. Fuji and Mountain Pass Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Matsuda (watercolour artist) Title: Country Farm in Autumn Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Matsumoto, Y (watercolour) Title: Sailboats on Lake by Mt Fuji Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Nishimura, Hodo Title: Iris Date: 1930s
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Artist: Nishimura, Hodo Title: Magnilia Date: 1930s
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Artist: Nishimura, Hodo Title: Pink Peony Date: 1930s
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Artist: Nishimura, Hodo Title: Scarlet Peony Date: 1930s
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Artist: Nishimura, Hodo Title: Thistle (Azami) Date: 1930s
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Artist: Ozawa J R (watercolour artist) Title: Fishing Boats on Snowy Beach Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Satsuta, Emiko Title: Ships in Harbour Near Mount Fuji Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Satta (watercolour artist) Title: Miyajima Torii and Sailboats Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Satta (watercolour artist) Title: Riverside Village in Spring Date: 1940s
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Artist: Shuho (watercolour artist, 1920s/30s) Title: Sailboats Under Moonlight Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Terada E (watercolour artist) Title: Early Morning Beach Scene Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Uehara (Watercolour artist) Title: Cottage by River Waterfall Date: 1940s
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Artist: Yamanoi (watercolour) Title: Flowing River in Valley Forest Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Yamanoi (watercolour) Title: Mt Fuji and River Date: 1920s/30s |
Artist: Yanagiwara, T E (watercolour artist) Title: Sailboat in Lake Near Mt. Fuji Date: 1922, May 5 |
Artist: Yoha K (Watercolour artist) Title: Sailboats At Sea Date: 1930s/40s |
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Yuhan Ito (1867-1942) 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Yuhan Ito was an accomplished woodblock print artist who published prints via the publisher Nishinomiya Yosaku. His given name is sometime called Yoshihiko or Yasuhiko, perhaps incorrectly, because the reading of his kanji signature (as found on some of his woodblock prints) is without doubt Yuhan. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Ito, Yuhan Title: Countryside in Sunlit Haze Date: 1930s |
Artist: Ito, Yuhan Title: Rainy street scene in spring Date: 1930s |
Artist: Ito, Yuhan Title: Torii Gate in Bamboo Grove Date: 1920s/30s |
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M. Matsu 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Matsu M (watercolour artist) Title: Evening Urban Street Scene - Bijin and Red Lantern Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Matsu M (watercolour artist) Title: Evening Urban Street Scene - Bijin and Rickshaw Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Matsu M (watercolour artist) Title: Evening View of a House on a Lake Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Matsu M (watercolour artist) Title: Urban Evening View of a Bijin Holding a Parasol Date: 1930s/40s
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S. Niimi 30 | |||||||||||||||||||
John Maddaus writes 'My mother lived in Sendai from 1935-1938 and came home with some of his watercolor prints'. Thus we can say with a high degree of confidence that S. Niimi was active pre-war. I have seen the name Saburo Niimi attributed to this artist, but I cannot confirm. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Kegon Waterfall, Nikko Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Mt Fuji and Sailboats on Lake Date: 1920s
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Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Mt Fuji In Snow Date: 1920s/30s/40s
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Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Pagoda by Rriver in Spring Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Torii By Lake In Autumn Date: 1930s/40s |
Artist: Niimi S (Watercolour) Title: Yaizu-no-hara Date: 1930s/40s |
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H. Saito and S. Hodo 40 | |||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately I do not know much about S. Hodo. I suspect he might be Saito Hodo, and he may have also used the name Nishimura Hodo (and perhaps H. Saito too), but I need further research data before I can conclude anything. In any case, his paintings were often sold via the publisher Takemura Hideo, with an accompanying sticker containing the publisher's details on the verso. H. Saito is with little doubt Saito Hodo who published woodblock prints via Takemura Hideo. I have image examples of a woodblock print and a watercolour of the same scene, one signed 'Hodo' and the other signed 'Saito H.'. You can find two woodblock prints in my gallery here and here | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Hodo S (watercolour artist) Title: Pilgrim In Snow Date: 1930s
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Artist: Saito, Hodo (a.c. 1930s) Title: Bijin Doing Ikebana Date: 1930s
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Artist: Saito, Hodo (a.c. 1930s) Title: Bijin in a Garden with Iris Date: 1930s
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Artist: Saito, Hodo (a.c. 1930s) Title: Bijin in a Japanese Garden Date: 1930s
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K. Seki and T. Seki 50 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Seki T (watercolour artist) Title: Misty Moonlit Night, Farmhouse by River Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Autumn River Scene Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Boatman on Mt Fuji Stream Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Cherry Tyrees by Riverside Hut Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Country Farm by Stream in Autumn Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Country Life Under Mt Fuji Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Cyprus Pines By Mt Fuji Lake Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Farm By Flowing Stream Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Japanese Garden Date: 1920s/30s |
Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Spring River Scene Date: 1920s/30s |
Artist: Seki, K (Watercolour artist) Title: Summer River Scene Date: 1920s/30s |
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Fukutaro Terauchi (born December 9th, 1891), K. Terauchi, and Terauchi Jr. 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
Very little is known about the artist Fukutaro Terauchi. Marc Kahn of Shotei.com in his article 'Paintings by Terauchi, Masterpieces or Tourist Souvenirs?' speculated that Terauchi may be actually a group of artists who mass-produced watercolours for the tourist market. Later, I received an email from Fran Walker who owns an October 1963 Kyoto Hanga-In catalog, which contains two woodblock prints by the artist Fukutaro Terauchi (see my article on Kyoto Hanga-In catalogs here, and view page 27 of the 1963 catalog). One of these woodblock prints is shown here. Marc Kahn also received further independent information regarding Fukutaro Terauchi from a collector who purchased his paintings in the early 1970's. A Certificate of Authenticity included with these paintings states that Fukutaro Terauchi was born on December 9th, 1891. In 1910 he entered the private school of Kiyoteru Kuroda, and later became a member of the Hakuba Association. While we can speculate as to whether Fukutaro Terauchi was active pre-war or not, we can say with certainty that he was active in the 1960's and possibly the 1970's, although I have seen his death listed as having occurred in 1964. Some Terauchi paintings, often found in old frames, are signed as 'K. Terauchi', while my research database also has a Terauchi painting with the signature 'Terauchi Jr' (Terauchi Junior) that dates to around 1935-1940 (it has a Takemura Hideo dealer sticker on the frame verso, thus pre-war). I believe K. Terauchi was most likely a family member of Fukutaro, perhaps his father, and 'Terauchi Jr' is most likely a young Fukutaro Terauchi. Do not confuse this artist with Terauchi Manjiro — they are two different artists and their medium (oils versus watercolours), subjects (nude versus landscapes), and signatures are completely different. If you have a watercolour with a signature similar to those of the Terauchi paintings shown below, then your painting is not by Terauchi Manjiro. If you need further proof, here is a watercolour signature that clearly shows the artist's first name as 'Fuku' December 2006: another collector states that she has a Terauchi watercolour purchased from Yamatoya Fine Art Gallery with original receipts stating a date of October 7, 1970. June 2008: collector Laura Marino has a Terauchi painting in a frame that also contains a Japanese newspaper sheet dating to September 1958. November 2011: Another collector, Pam, states 'My grandparents purchased these two paintings on March 13, 1979. Both watercolors have original certificates of purchase on the back from the Yamatoya Fine Art Gallery in Miyanoshita, Hakone, Japan.' | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Fishermen Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Fishermen on Shore Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Night Rain Under Willows Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Pagoda In Spring Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Sailboat in a Squall Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Spring at the Farm Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Two Storey Pagoda In Spring Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Village by a Bamboo Forest Date: 1940s/50s/60s
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Artist: Terauchi Fukutaro (b. December 9th, 1891) Title: Winter Evening Town Scene Date: 1940s/50s/60s |
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S. Tosuke and T. Tosuke 70 | |||||||||||||||||||
The owner of an S. Tosuke painting writes that her grandmother Mrs Frederick Shedd was taken on a Thomas Cook world tour during 1921 and 1922. During this time she acquired several watercolours including 'an S Tosuke, a G Yokouchi and two T E Yanagiwara paintings'. This confirms S. Tosuke was active as early as 1922. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Hut By River In Bamboo Grove Date: 1923/24
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Pagoda on a Rainy Night Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Sailboats on a Lake by Mt Fuji Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Shrine Entrance in a Snowstorm Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Valley Town By Mt Fuji In Winter (A) Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Valley Town By Mt Fuji In Winter (B) Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Village By Lake In Winter Date: 1910s/20s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke S (watercolour artist) Title: Village by Mt Fuji at Dawn Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Tosuke T (watercolour artist) Title: Cyprus Pines Date: 1910s/20s/30s |
Artist: Tosuke T (watercolour artist) Title: Mt. Fuji and River Through Valley Date: 1910s/20s/30s |
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G.T. (Tasuke) Yokouchi 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tasuke Yokouchi (also known as G T Yokouchi), was an artist of renown talent who was active during the early part of the 20th century. He is probably the same artist as Ginnosuke Yokouchi (1870-1942), and, unknown to most collectors, he also self-published some striking limited-edition shin-hanga woodblock prints too (see a thorough biography of Yokouchi's woodblock print production at Hanga Gallery). The owner of a G Yokouchi painting writes that her grandmother Mrs Frederick Shedd was taken on a Thomas Cook world tour during 1921 and 1922. During this time she acquired several watercolours including 'an S Tosuke, a G Yokouchi and two T E Yanagiwara paintings'. This confirms Yokouchi was active as early as 1922. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Yokouchi, Tasuke (G. T. Yokouchi) Title: Departing Fisherman by Fuji Date: 1940s
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Artist: Yokouchi, Tasuke (G. T. Yokouchi) Title: Night Fishing Date: 1910s/20s
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Artist: Yokouchi, Tasuke (G. T. Yokouchi) Title: Pine Forest at Miho Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Yokouchi, Tasuke (G. T. Yokouchi) Title: Village by Lake in Early Morning Date: 1920s/30s
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A. Yoshida 90 | |||||||||||||||||||
Very little is known about this artist. He/she was an accomplished artist active in the pre-war period. One owner writes 'in case it helps your research the info I have on the painting is as follows: it was bought in Japan in 1917 by H.S. Williamson when he was travelling back to India from England.' A. Yoshida was not the famous woodblock print artist Hiroshi Yoshida! Please be careful of sellers trying to flog off their A. Yoshida watercolours as being by Hiroshi Yoshida. How can we discriminate between A. Yoshida and H. Yoshida watercolours? That is a good question, and I am currently writing a research article on this very subject. As a simple check, if your painting has all three of the following characteristics:
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Artist: Yoshida A (watercolour artist) Title: Hut by Stream in Autumn Date: 1920s/30s |
Artist: Yoshida A (watercolour artist) Title: Sailboats on Lake by Mt Fuji Date: 1930s |
A. Yoshida signatures. Note the "H" character in the name "Yoshida" is well defined. Clearly this artist can write a disctint "H" character. Now compare this "H" character to the first initial. We can obviously see that the first initial is not an "H" character at all; it is an "A" character. Also note that the "Y" character is always written with a "curly leg" (called a decender). |
Hiroshi Yoshida signatures. Note that the first initial is clearly an "H" character. Also note that the "Y" character never has a "curly leg". |