Posted by Thomas Crossland on August 21, 2001 at 23:44:09:
In Reply to: "Hirosaki Castle" by Hiroshi Yoshida posted by Richard Parks on August 21, 2001 at 10:23:37:
Hi Richard,
Your print, “Hirosada Castle” (a vertical castle scene—set beautifully behind and seen through the overhanging branches of a flowering cherry tree), is among a sub-set of prints titled “Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms” and was first produced in 1935.
Thus, once you’ve confirmed that it does indeed bear a true “pencil” signature, you then clearly know that it was at least produced during the 15 year period between 1935 and the year of Hiroshi’s death in 1950. (Caution—“block-signed” signatures are VERY similar looking, however they lack “shine” of pencil lead. Also note—for further confirmation, “block-signed” signatures often appear to be “embossed” down into the paper’s surface, due to the fact that they ARE hand-carved and actually added as a part of the inked woodblock’s lower margin.)
As for being a “jizuri” (a “self-printed” or “closely supervised” edition) print, this is determined by looking for the two kanji character “jizuri seal” sitting alone in the upper left margin typically about a ½ inch or so above the print’s margin-printed kanji Japanese title. (To see exactly what a “jizuri seal” looks like, please see Hanga Galleries page on this topic at: http://hanga.com/landscape/yoshida/seals.html)
Finally, as for the black (Japanese) “signature” and red artist’s “seal” seen in your print’s lower left image, please note that ALL EDITIONS of the print will in this respect be identical. Both this “signature” and “seal” are parts of the print’s original woodblocks (ie, these are NOT added later by hand) and thusly will appear exactly identical in all printings.
Beyond that, I know of no way to more precisely date your print.
Enjoy your print!!