Yotsuya Araki Yokocho, from "Tokyo Fukei series" by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Yotsuya Araki Yokocho, from Tokyo Fukei series by Tsuchiya Koitsu

Yotsuya Araki Yokocho, from "Tokyo Fukei series"

Tsuchiya Koitsu

Title

Yotsuya Araki Yokocho, from "Tokyo Fukei series"

 
Artist
Year
1935 / printed later, ca 1950-63 
Technique
color woodcut 
Image Size
14 1/4 x 9 1/2" image 
Signature
signature and seal, lower left in image 
Edition Size
not stated 
Annotations
 
Reference
Koitsu Raisonne code: TK-DH-18; illustrated pages 67 and 330 
Paper
heavy, ivory laid Japanese hosho with Doi watermark 
State
published 
Publisher
Doi Hangaten, chop in left margin 
Inventory ID
21531 
Price
SOLD
Description

One of Koitsu's most popular designs, this woodcut has been reprinted many times by the publisher since its original printing in January 1935. The artist depicts two geisha bathed in the light of a teahouse in the early evening. Koitsu's sensitive handling of light is evident in this print.

From the title "Yotsuya Araki Yokocho", the teahouse is located in an alley (yokocho) in Yotsuya, Araki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

In 1933 Koitsu began a series of twelve image titled the 'Tokyo Fukei Series' (Tokyo Views) were published in a particular order and "Yotsuya Araki Yokocho" was published tenth in the series of twelve. The series was completed in November of 1935.

Publisher Doi Sadaichi planned to publish one print each month but the project ended up taking three years. This impression is from a later printing, circa 1950-63.