Details

In this majestic panorama, Mt. Kashimayari from Mt. Hachimine, Itō Takashi presents a sublime vision of the Northern Japanese Alps—where ridgelines slice through waves of cloud like ancient dragon spines slumbering beneath the heavens. The viewer stands on Mt. Hachimine, gazing across a sea of mist toward the soaring peaks of Kashimayari, their flanks streaked with lingering snow.

The composition is defined by bold diagonal movement, echoing both the drama of the terrain and the spirit of Taishō and early Shōwa-era exploration, when mountaineering and landscape painting were intertwined pursuits of beauty and transcendence. The layered purples, soft lilacs, and emerald greens are rendered with extraordinary clarity, revealing Takashi’s painterly sensibility and his mastery of color harmonies within the woodblock medium.

Connoisseur's Note

Kashimayari-dake, part of the Hida Mountains, has long held sacred associations in Japanese cosmology. Its very name, combining “Kashima” (suggestive of divine authority) and “yari” (spear), evokes both mythic power and elemental form. Takashi’s perspective from Mt. Hachimine ("eight peaks") suggests not only altitude, but a contemplative vantage—an elevation of both body and mind. The print’s sharp detailing, tonal complexity, and commanding composition make it a standout among Takashi’s mountain subjects. The use of striated cloud forms heightens the drama while anchoring the piece in a dreamlike realism. A profound and contemplative image, Mt. Kashimayari from Mt. Hachimine invites the viewer into a world where sky, stone, and spirit converge—an alpine hymn rendered in pigment and woodgrain.

This impression bares the Watanabe C-type seal, and indicates it is a first state of the design. The impression’s saturated colors with subtle bokashi throughout the cloud forms showcases the pinnacle of printmaking from the Watanabe enterprise. This impression, with its fresh and vivid colors, is in superb state of preservation.