SOZAN Japanese Woodblock Print HERON 1920s

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SOZAN Japanese Woodblock Print HERON 1920s ITO SOZAN Heron in a Willow Tree Date: 1925, published by Watanabe, signed and sealed Sozan Size: 6.8" x 15" Condition: VG, uncirculated print, "Made in Japan" stamped in bottom margin on verso Impression: Fine, excellent registration and good surface texture, strong key lines Color: Fine, deep saturated color and bleed through to verso Provenance: from the Collection of Robert O. Muller (see below for more information) A little white heron stands on a willow bough on a windy morning. ITO SOZAN designed prints known for the Tokyo publisher Watanabe Shozaburo. Sozan's speciality was bird and flower prints, or kacho-e , although he also designed some bijin-ga prints. He began working with Watanabe in 1919 and continued to design prints through 1926. This happens to be the same year that another kacho-e artist, Ohara Shoson (also known as Koson), started working for Watanabe. It is not known if Shoson was hired to replace Sozan, or why Sozan stopped designing prints at this time. Watanabe's 1936 catalog included 28 prints by Sozan. WHO WAS ROBERT O. MULLER? Robert O. Muller’s love affair with Japanese prints began one day in the 1930s, when as a student in New York City he spotted a Hasui in a gallery window, and immediately arranged to purchase the print. As a newly wed in 1940 he went on a print shopping tour to Japan with his wife where he met the shin hanga publisher Watanabe Shozaburo and Watanabe’s stable of artists including: Kawase Hasui, Shiro Kasamatsu, and Ito Shinsui. He also met and befriended Hiroshi Yoshida. After WWII, Muller continued to deal in Japanese prints, but he was also an avid collector with a keen eye for good art. Although the Muller Collection is best known for shin hanga , Mr. Muller also collected late nineteenth century prints and good reproductions of famous Edo masters. When Mr. Muller passed away on April 10, 2003, he had left possibly the largest and finest collection of 20th century Japanese prints in the world, and the question of what would become of his notorious collection was a major topic among Japanese print collectors. The finest 20th century prints from his collection were given as a gift to the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and an exhibit was mounted. Other portions of the collection were sold at auction and still more remains with his heirs. Several books have been published about the collection. VISIT OUR EBAY STORE FOR MORE WOODBLOCK PRINTS AND BOOKS ABOUT WOODBLOCK ARTISTS Please feel free to email us through the eBay message system with any questions. WE PREFER PAYPAL, but in the event that you do not have a Paypal account we will accept payment through the mail. Please contact us through eBay for the mailing address. Items purchased will be shipped only to the address on the eBay account. State of New York residents are required to pay 7.375% sales tax. International If payment has not been received within 10 days of the end of the purchase, a Non-Paying Bidder report will be filed with eBay unless other arrangements have been made with the seller. SHIPPING - Domestic shipping costs are listed on the item's eBay page. Domestic U.S. buyers may combine prints (sorry NOT BOOKS or books with prints) purchased within a 7-day period. Additional prints shipped domestically are $1.50 each. International shipping costs are listed on the item's eBay page, and additional prints shipped internationally are $2.50 each. When combining prints into one shipment the highest shipping rate applies plus any additional item fees as listed on the auction page. This includes items listed as free shipping when combined with items requiring postage. Seller is not responsible for any customs fees or VAT that may be incurred by international buyers. RETURNS - We try to present each item accurately. If you have a question, please contact us through the eBay message system for clarification prior to bidding. If you... read more

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