Gakusui Ide

Japanese Woodblock Print of Single Snowy Heron in the Rain Published by Watanabe c. 1950

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Material

Woodblock print

About

Japanese woodblock print of a single white heron by Japanese artist Gakusui Ide and published by Shozaburo Watanabe. The piece features a white heron set against a stark black background streaked with rain. The work is a beautiful example of kacho-e, or bird-and-flower pictures. Signed in impression in front right corner.

Artist Biography

Born in Yamanashi prefecture in 1899, Gakusui Ide studied Japanese-style painting with Tamon Yamanouchi and Kanpo Araki. Living in China between 1929 and 1946, he commenced his career as a woodblock artist after returning to Japan in 1949. In Japan, Gakusui also worked with the famed Shin Hanga publisher Shozaburo Watanabe, focusing on kacho-e (bird-and-flower pictures). He is particularly known for his prints of cranes and herons, which feature distinctly bold geometric lines. He passed away in 1982.

Dimensions

H 15.5 in. x W 10.13 in.
Japanese Woodblock Print of Single Snowy Heron in the Rain Published by Watanabe c. 1950