Tsuchiya koistu

Koitsu specialised in landscape prints. He came to landscape prints late in his career at the age of 61, and while a contemporary of Hasui and Kasamatsu he is considered a second generation shin hanga artist. His first recorded landscape designs date from c. 1931 when he created designs for both the Tokyo-based publishers Kawaguchi and Watanabe, the most famous of shin hanga publishers. His style reminds of the works of his master Kobayashi and of the famous shin hanga artists Kawase Hasui and Hiroshi Yoshida. In typical shin hanga style, Tsuchiya Koitsu intensively used the effects of light to create moods and emotions in his images.

Other publishers for whom Tsuchiya Koitsu worked are Doi and Kawaguchi. During the 1930s and 1940s, Koitsu was quite productive in shin hanga landscape designs. His prints have been a bit neglected on the art market, but have gained in appreciation and price during the last years. Koitsu prints are solid works, beautiful and by no means mediocre. This makes this artist interesting for novice collectors and those who have an open eye for discoveries.

The Hidden Meanings of Tsuchiya Koitsu's Mount Fuji
These two breathtaking prints of Mount Fuji by Tsuchiya Koitsu were both framed from the perspective of the famous five lakes in Hakone. The astounding beauty of the landscapes portrayed here captivated western buyers at the time, but Mount Fuji as a symbol actually meant more than just an attractive Japanese mountain. Mount Fuji was often used to represent the increasingly nationalistic sentiments that the country was experiencing, especially after Japan had taken control of Manchuria in the early 1930s. By the end of that decade, woodblock prints of scenic locations heavy with Japanese national symbolism had increased fiercely. The small shrine featured in the image above also contributed to the expression of patriotism, as Shinto was the state religion at the time