OCHIGAKI [RAKUGAKI]

1906. [DESIGN] Tsuda SEIFU & ASANO Kouko. OCHIGAKI [RAKUGAKI]. Kyoto, Unsodo, Meiji 39 [1906]. 1 vol. (of two) 24.6 X 17.8 cm. Orihon folding album of color woodblock printed designs. Tsuda Seifu, in this early incarnation (he lived to 98!), was one of the foremost designers of the Neo-Rimpa renaissance. During his long artistic career, he would contribute as a designer, as here, a Western-style painter in oil and watercolor, a book designer and traditional "Nihonga" painter. Though very prolific, his early design works done for Unkindo and Unsodo of Kyoto have rarely survived and thus are known primarily by rumor and by looking through old Unsodo catalogues from the period. Here is a partial copy of one of those albums, "FALLEN PERSIMMONS", which he did in collaboration with fellow designer and friend, Asano Kouko, who would die young. There are 15 double page designs, printed and overprinted in saturated color and metallic inks. The volume is in very clean shape, though the back cover is missing its overlay. The prints themselves are extraordinary. A happy confluence of rarity and great beauty. (Inventory #: 91210)