Art Blog #179

'Benkei Bridge' by Toshi Yoshida.

Artist Bio

Tōshi Yoshida was a Japanese printmaker linked to the sōsaku-hanga movement and was the son of shin-hanga artist Hiroshi Yoshida. During his early childhood, one of Yoshida's legs became paralyzed. Unable to attend school, he found joy in observing animals and his father's printmaking studio.

With encouragement from his grandmother Rui Yoshida, Tōshi frequently sketched animals.

Born:

25 Jul 1911 (Tokyo)

Died:

1 Jul 1995 (Tokyo, Japan)

Image Details:

'Benkei bridge' (Heisei) by Toshi Yoshida (1911–1995) 

Type: Original woodblock print

First edition: 1940

This impression Heisei period (1989 - 2019)

Image size 24.1 × 17.0 cm

Impression/Colour/Condition: Good/Good/Good

Present day Benkei Bridge

The artwork, named “Benkei Bridge,” was crafted by Toshi Yoshida in 1941. It is part of the Sōsaku hanga movement and falls under the genre of genre painting.

The piece depicts an elegant scene on Benkei Bridge, an area embellished with traditional Japanese architecture. In the foreground, two women in vibrant kimonos are seen engaging in a leisurely conversation; one is standing while the other sits gracefully on a stone bench. The bridge, portrayed with detailed yet subtle depiction, extends into the distance beneath the canopy of a gracefully flowing willow tree. A prominent stone lantern in the right mid-ground, set against the natural elements and figures, enhances the scene's serene and timeless ambiance. The subtle transitions of the sky, shifting from the soft colors of dawn or dusk, complement the overall composition, evoking a sense of tranquility and everyday beauty in early 20th-century Japan.

Art Blog courtesy of www.connorcontemporary.com