Re: Pencil-signed, Block-signed, and Jizuri

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Posted by Richard Parks on August 24, 2001 at 09:56:43:

In Reply to: Pencil-signed, Block-signed, and Jizuri posted by Thomas Crossland on August 21, 2001 at 23:44:09:

I'm almost certain that the pencil signature is embossed, so it's most likely a posthumous print. I still haven't been able to find the significance of the "toku" seal and whether this was used on the 1985 commemorative edition. I suspect so, but it'd be nice to be able to confirm it.

: Hi Richard,
:

: Your print, Hirosada Castle (a vertical castle sceneset 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 youve 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 Hiroshis death in 1950. (Cautionblock-signed signatures are VERY similar looking, however they lack shine of pencil lead. Also notefor further confirmation, block-signed signatures often appear to be embossed down into the papers surface, due to the fact that they ARE hand-carved and actually added as a part of the inked woodblocks 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 prints 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 artists seal seen in your prints 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 prints 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!!

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: I'm almost certain that the pencil signature is embossed, so it's most likely a posthumous print. I still haven't been able to find the significance of the "toku" seal and whether this was used on the 1985 commemorative edition. I suspect so, but it'd be nice to be able to confirm it. : : Hi Richard, : : : : Your print, Hirosada Castle (a vertical castle sceneset 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 youve 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 Hiroshis death in 1950. (Cautionblock-signed signatures are VERY similar looking, however they lack shine of pencil lead. Also notefor further confirmation, block-signed signatures often appear to be embossed down into the papers surface, due to the fact that they ARE hand-carved and actually added as a part of the inked woodblocks 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 prints 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 artists seal seen in your prints 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 prints 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!!

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