ORIGINS OF SHIN HANGA
Shin Hanga, meaning "new prints," emerged in Japan during the early 20th century as a revival and continuation of the Ukiyo-e style, blending traditional techniques with modern sensibilities. Developed as a response to the decline of Ukiyo-e and the influence of Western art, Shin Hanga maintained many of the motifs popular in earlier prints, including landscapes, bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), kacho-e (bird and flower designs), and depictions of Kabuki actors. However, Shin Hanga artists introduced more refined compositions, enhanced color palettes, and greater attention to depth and atmosphere, often incorporating Western artistic principles. Artists like Hashiguchi Goyo, Kawase Hasui, Natori Shunsen, and Yoshida Hiroshi helped lead the movement, ensuring that Shin Hanga bridged the gap between traditional Japanese woodblock printing and modern artistic expression.
HOW ARE SHIN HANGA PRINTS CREATED?
Like Ukiyo-e, Shin Hanga prints were produced with a collaborative system where a publisher hired an artist to produce a design and artisans to carve the woodblocks and printers to print the finished work.
SHIN HANGA ARTISTS
Shinsui, Ito, 1898-1972
Shiro, Kasamatsu, 1898-1991
Shoson, Ohara, 1877-1945
Shuho, Yamakawa, 1898-1944
Shunsen, Natori, 1886-1960
Taisui, Inuzuka, fl. 1929
Takashi, Ito, 1894-1983
Toraji, Ishikawa, 1875-1964
Toyonari, Yamamura, 1855-1952
Tsunetomi, Kitano, 1880-1947
Yoshida, Fujio, 1887-1987
Yoshida, Hiroshi, 1876-1950
Yoshida, Toshi, 1911-1995
Goyo, Hashiguchi, 1880-1921
Hakuho, Hirano, 1879-1957
Hasui, Kawase, 1883-1957
Hiroaki, Shotei, 1871-1945
Hoson, Ohara, 1877-1945
Kiyoshi, Kobayakawa, 1897-1948
Koitsu, Ishiwata, 1897-1957
Koitsu, Tsuchiya, 1870-1949
Koson, Ohara, 1877-1945
Kotondo, Torii, 1900-1977
Obata, Chiura, 1885-1975
Oda, Kazuma, 1882-1956
Ohno, Bakufu, 1888–1976
Shin Hanga Japanese Woodblock Prints
The Wind Through the Pines
Yoshio Okada (Japanese, 20th Century)
SERIES: Scroll of the Tale of Genji
DATE: 1978
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 13 ¼ x 11 1/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; No problems to note
NOTE: Published by Yuyu, complete with original folder
$2,800.00
Snowing
Toshi Yoshida (1911–1995)
EDITION: Artist’s Proof (A.P.)
DATE: 1977
MEDIUM: Woodblock and Copperplate
DIMENSIONS: 12 ¾ x 25 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; no problems to note
NOTE: Pencil signature, lifetime impression
SOLD
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Ishiyama Temple
Toshi Yoshida (1911–1995)
DATE: 1946
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 15 ½ x 10 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Early lifetime impression—signed in pencil by the artist in the lower margin; rare color variant
$1,500.00
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Heirinji Temple Bell
Toshi Yoshida (1911–1995)
DATE: 1951
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 16 × 10 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
NOTE: Lifetime impression, signed in pencil by the artist in the lower margin
$2,000.00
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Swallows Perched on a Willow Branch
Daiko (active c. 1930s)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: c. 1930
DIMENSIONS: 15 ¾ x 10 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
$1,500.00
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Lobster
Bakufu Ohno (1888–1976)
SERIES: Familiar Fishes of Japan Volume I
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1938
DIMENSIONS: 11 1/8 × 15 ¾ inches
CONDITION: Excellent; vibrant and vivid colors; no problems to note
NOTE: Second edition
$950.00
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Leaping Horse (Left)
Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
DATE: 1930
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 20 ½ x 15 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Brush signature and seal of the artist lower left
$800.00 <RESERVED>
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Leaping Horse (Right)
Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
DATE: 1930
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 20 ½ x 15 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Brush signature and seal of the artist lower left
$800.00 <RESERVED>
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Foggy Morning, Van Ness Ave, S.F.
Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
DATE: 1930
MEDIUM: Color woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 12 ¾ x 18 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; faint soiling to margins
NOTE: Silver mica highlights
$5,000.00
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Madame Talia Savanieva
Chiura Obata (1885-1975)
DATE: 1930
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 16 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (finished print); 19 x 13 inches (trial prints)
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
NOTE: Suite of 7 prints; silver mica highlights
$17,500.00
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Spring Rain, Berkeley California
Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
DATE: 1930
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 18 1/8 × 13 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
$9,000.00
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Grand Canyon
Chiura Obata (1885-1975)
MEDIUM: Mineral pigment on silk
DATE: 1940
DIMENSIONS: 21 ½ x 18 inches (silk)
CONDITION: Excellent, no problems to note
NOTE: Framed
$65,000.00
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Bay Bridge, San Francisco
Chiura Obata (1885–1975)
DATE: c. 1935
MEDIUM: Watercolor on paper
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 × 20 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; faint scuff in paper at bottom
NOTE: Signed with Obata’s seal and Western signature in ink lower right
$20,000.00 <RESERVED>
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Notre Dame from the Banks of the Seine
Kazue Yamagishi (1891-1984)
DATE: c. 1930
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 16 ¾ x 12 ½ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no problems to note
$3,000.00
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Mt. Fuji from Hakone
Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (1871–1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1930
DIMENSIONS: 10 ½ x 15 3/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no condition problems to note
NOTE: Watanabe C-type seal, first state
$3,000.00
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Pug on a Cushion
Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki) (1871-1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1926
DIMENSIONS: 10 5/8 x 15 1/4 inches
CONDITION: Excellent, no problems to note
NOTE: Round Watanbe 6mm seal, with artist’s red seal at lower left corner margin; early post war impression; silver mica background
$3,000.00
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Izumi Bridge in Rain
Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (1871–1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1930
DIMENSIONS: 6 5/8 × 14 7/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
$2,500.00
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Night Rain on Izumi Bridge
Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (1871–1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1909–1923
DIMENSIONS: 6 ¾ x 14 7/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare pre-earthquake impression
$3,200.00
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Flock of Crows in the Snow
Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (1871–1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: c. early 1920s
DIMENSIONS: 15 1/8 × 6 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent color and impression; no problems to note
NOTE: Rare pre-earthquake design; strong early impression with strong woodgrain visible
$4,000.00
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Hodakayama After Rain
Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950)
DATE: 1927
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 23 3/4 x 31 1/2 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; faint abrasion at the margins
LITERATURE: Ogura, Yoshida Hiroshi Zenhangashu (The Complete Woodblock Prints of Hiroshi Yoshida), Abe Shuppan, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 99
$35,000.00
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Fujiyama, First Light of Dawn
Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1926
DIMENSIONS: 23 1/8 x 29 5/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent; faint toning to margins and on reverse
LITERATURE: Ogura, Yoshida Hiroshi Zenhangashu (The Complete Woodblock Prints of Hiroshi Yoshida), Abe Shuppan, Tokyo, 1987, pl.48
MEDIA: This print was discussed on Woodblock Wednesday Episode 98
$35,000.00
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Wild Geese
Ohara Shoson (1877–1945)
DATE: 1926
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 15 ¼ x 10 ¼ in. (38.7 x 26 cm)
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; faint crease
LITERATURE: Amy Newland et. al., Crows, Cranes & Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson 1877-1945, 2001, p. 147, cat. no. 149
NOTE: Watanabe C-type seal; early pre-war impression
SOLD
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Peacock on a Bough of Pine Tree
Ohara Koson (1877-1945)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 20th Century
DIMENSIONS: 14 ¼ x 7 ½ inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Amy Newland et al., Crows, Cranes & Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson 1877-1945, 2001, Cat K38.18
$1,200.00
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Fujiyama
Hans Luthmann (1888-1945)
MEDIUM: Etching
DATE: c. 1931
DIMENSIONS: 13 x 17 3/4 inches
CONDITION: Excellent—no problems to note
$1,200.00
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Kamakura Buddha
Hans Luthmann (1888-1945)
MEDIUM: Etching
DATE: c. 1931
DIMENSIONS: 17 3/4 x 13 1/8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent—no problems to note
$800.00
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Torii and Lanterns, Miyajima
Hans Luthmann (1888-1945)
MEDIUM: Etching
DATE: c. 1931
DIMENSIONS: 14 3/4 x 12 1/4 inches
CONDITION: Excellent—no problems to note
$800.00
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The Daruma Branch
Helen Hyde (1868-1919)
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1900
DIMENSIONS: 11 3/4 x 8 inches
CONDITION: Excellent—tipped onto original mount
LITERATURE: Mason, Tim, Helen Hyde (American Printmakers: A Smithsonian Series)
NOTE: With original kyôgô-zuri, keyblock print proof; pencil signature
$800.00
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Nikko Garden
Lilian May Miller (1895-1943)
MEDIUM: Pigment on paper
DATE: 1938
DIMENSIONS: 12 5/8 x 12 1/4 inches
CONDITION: Minor staining and foxing to mount—painting itself is in fine condition
NOTE: Dedication and poem on verso
$1,200.00
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Le Mandarin Aux Lunettes Mandchoukuo
Paul Jacoulet (1896-1960)
EDITION: 30/250
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DATE: 1950
CONDITION: Excellent; no problems to note
NOTE: Silver mica highlights
LITERATURE: Miles, Richard, Prints of Paul Jacoulet, pl. 106
$3,000.00
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2001
$2,000
Snow—Missing Day
Kazuyuki Ohtsu (1935–2020)
EDITION: 38/77
DATE: 2001
MEDIUM: Woodblock Print
DIMENSIONS: 24 × 18 ¼ inches
CONDITION: Excellent impression and color; no issues to note
NOTE: Rarely seen snow scene
$2,000.00
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