[BIRD WITH BUDDHA HAND [FO SHOU)]. [Extracted From The KEINEN KACHO GAFU Set] by IMAO, Keinen

[Kyoto 1887, Nishimura]. A color woodblock print, vertical format, sheet: 24 x 37 cm., print: 22.5 x 32 cm., excellent registry, impression, no flaws, bright, clean & solid copy, #16 in top right margin, verso clean. * RARE FIRST EDITION * . *** **** *** . . . A STUNNING IMAGE OF THE FINGERED CITRON & A BIRD . . . EXECUTED IN SUPERB, SUBTLE PASTELS . . . ONE OF THE RAREST EXAMPLES IN THE SERIES . * The full set was issued in 4 volumes: Haru [Spring], Natsu [Summer], Aki [Autumn], Fuyu [Winter]. Each page shows a lovely composition of birds in natural floral & botanical settings, including fruit trees and water examples. The double-page examples are grand size [2 Oban] prints, 46 x 32 cm. Stunningly large examples ! . This print was extracted from that set. It shows a sparrow [?] perched on a branch of the "Fingered Citron [citrus medica var. sarcodactylis], a plant in full bloom with one superb ripe fruit, and another immature green fruit. . This plant has been revered since time immoral by the Chinese, Vietnamese & Koreans, among others in Asia and S.E. Asia. . It usually fruits around the Chinese Lunar New Year, and is coveted for display, invoking "Good Luck" for the New Year. This fruit is auspiciously place on the altar with fruit, food, wine offerings to the ancestors. Without this fruit, the altar is incomplete, and will probably yield nothing but "Bad Luck" for the New Year ! It is highly part of the Asian suspicion norm. . *** THE ARTIST, IMAO KEENAN [1845-1924]: . He was a Japanese painter and print designer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, part of the Shin-hangar ["New Prints"]movement. In 1904 he was appointed as an Imperial Household Artist. . He was a celebrated, prize-winning Kyoto artist. He studied under Megara and a later pupil of Suzuki Hyakunen. See Roberts below. . NOTE OF INTEREST ABOUT THIS PRINT SERIES: Commonly the below statement was inside of the front covers: "Imported Japanese Print made from cherry wood blocks on mulberry paper Published by Shima Art Co., New York-Tokyo." And a label: "Imported Oriental Woodblock Prints Made by Hand on Genuine Rice Paper from Cherry Woodblocks." . The above is strictly an example of what is found in the original volume covers, this is not found on the print, for your information only. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: This is in superb condition, with excellent impression and registry, printed in subdued pastels, except for the throat of the bird which has the only outstanding color of oxidized red-brown, after 100 years of aging and gaining a lovely patina. . The verso is blank, no marks, by and large a superb example without any detractions. . Seldom found on the market, this particular print remains of of the most sought after in the whole series. It is coveted and eagerly displayed on or above the altar. . Far and above the average example, superb, finely executed. About as good as it can get ! . *** REFERENCES: . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imao_Keinen * L. Roberts: DICTIONARY OF JAPANESE ARTISTS, p.53-54, for biographical information. . *** The references below list or discuss other prints by Keinen which contribute to the overall knowledge and insight to this print and its subject: . * Harley H. Bartlett & Hide Shohara: JAPANESE BOTANY DURING THE PERIOD OF WOOD-BLOCK PRINTING, p.239-240, exhibit 99, figure 91. * C. Mitchell: THE ILLUSTRATED BOOKS OF THE NANGA, MARUYAMA, SHIJO AND OTHER RELATED SCHOOLS OF JAPAN: A Bibliography: pages 354-355. * L. Brown: BLOCK PRINTING AND BOOK ILLUSTRATION IN JAPAN, states: "Perhaps the most beautiful work of this kind ever printed in Japan." Page 201.. * [SMITH, Lawrence]. et al.: FLOWERS AND BIRDS FROM IMAO KEINEN'S ALBUMS. * IMAO, Keinen. : KEINEN KACHO GAFU: Haru, Natsu, Aki, Fuyu. KEINEN'S BIRD AND FLOWER ILLUSTRATIONS: SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER, Taipei 1979. . * Visit our website for copies of the above reference books. . * .