<b>SAILING BOAT, NIGHT</b> / Hiroshi Yoshida1926$2,000</em>

Details

A sailboat out in the Sea of Japan is greeted by a quiet night, as its relatively calm waters broadcast the boat’s reflection in silhouette. The junk’s old-fashioned sails are up and filled with meandering moonlight, which propels the design-forward, easily catching the eye of the viewer. The shore's lights are seen in the distance, cutting through a darkness that is partially cloaked in mist. Silhouettes of other ships move past quietly as the evening progresses.

Fascinated by light, Hiroshi Yoshida’s Sailing Boat, Night, is a study of light. Much in the tradition of Monet’s Haystacks, Yoshida produced six different finished prints, all sharing the exact printing blocks but inked with differing colors, which aimed at showcasing the same subject at differing times of the day. This series was a smashing success for the young artist and garnered him the attention and acclamation of both collectors and critics alike at a critical time, thus propelling his career forward and helping establish Yoshida as one of the top landscape artists of the Shin Hanga movement.

Connoisseur's Note

Despite the success of the Sailing Boat designs, the artist did not produce these designs in large quantities. The expense associated with the larger size of the design so early on in his career kept production at a minimum. After the artist's death, a small number of posthumous impressions were issued by the Yoshida studios. The artist’s same woodblock printers were used in the production of these prints, ensuring their highest quality.  

This print is one of those impressions. Its stunning printing quality is a testament to the skill of the artisans who produced it. This impression is in an outstanding state of preservation with exceedingly sharp and vivid colors in pristine condition. At a fraction of the price of the first state, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a Yoshida masterwork at an obtainable price.