Details

In this design, we find a traveler crossing a roaring stream on a bridge made from a fallen log deep in the wilderness, near the mountains. Takashi Ito has given the viewer a rare glimpse of Japan's great interior, where the budding spring's magic arrives, but only a few catch a glimpse of it.

The lone traveler in Ito’s design is dwarfed by the grandeur of the mountains and trees surrounding him. A sound is conjured by Ito’s depiction of the active stream at the lower center of the design—luring the traveler and viewer forward and deeper into the wilderness.

Connoisseur's Note

Itō Takashi, a distinguished artist of the shin Hanga movement, was known for his evocative landscapes that often depicted solitary figures immersed in nature. Trained under both traditional Japanese and Western art disciplines, Takashi developed a unique style characterized by delicate color gradations and a painterly approach to woodblock printing.

This print bears the Watanabe “D” type seal at the lower right margin, indicative of this design's first state. It is executed with a subtle but expressive palate with elegant bokashi (color gradation) throughout the composition, supporting this early attribution. Later impressions lack the subtlety of colors and bokashi, which understate the artist’s original sense of light and shadow. This work is preserved exceptionally, as it has never been framed or displayed for extended periods. The colors are pristine, and the impression is outstanding.