About This Print

This print originally published in 1930 as part of the series Shin Tokyo Hyakkei (One Hundred Views of New Tokyo) exists in at least two states.  The print in this collection is likely the second state and may have been created from recut or retouched blocks.  The original edition for the series Shin Tokyo Hyakkei was 50 prints and the print in this collection is numbered 60/100.  Note that the print from the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago shown below on the right looks to be created from the same blocks as this collection's print, but does not carry an edition number or the artist's seal in the lower right corner of the image, or the artist's name printed in the lower right margin, suggesting a possible third state of this print.  As Hiratsuka, like many artists of the time, did not rigorously control edition sizes, the total number of impressions for this print in its various states is unknown.

Source: "Shin Tokyo Hyakkei: The Eastern Capital Revisited by the Modern Print Artists," James B. Austin, appearing in Ukiyo-e Art A Journal of the Japan Ukiyo-e Society, No. 14, 1966.
This pond is at the southern end of Ueno Park.  The print shows the Benzaiten shrine on the island in the pond, and the top of the famous five-storied pagoda in Ueno Park appears above the trees on the hill in the background.  Small seal with characters “Un-ichi” in reserve on brown, lower right corner.  March 5, 1930.

Other States and Impressions

The Series One Hundred Views of New Tokyo (Shin Tokyo hyakkei)

In 1929 Hiratsuka, along with seven other artists and the publisher Nakajima Jutaro, undertook the creation of the series Shin Tokyo hayakkei (One Hundred Views of Tokyo).  The series goal was to depict the modern city of Tokyo that arose after the devastating 1923 earthquake.  For more information on this series see the article on this site Shin Tokyo hayakkei (One Hundred Views of Tokyo).

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#180
Title	Shinobazu Pond in Snow (Shinobazu ike sekkei)
Series	One Hundred Views of Tokyo (Shin Tokyo hyakkei)
Artist	Hiratsuka Un'ichi (1895-1997)
Signature	Un-ichi Hiratsuka handwritten in pencil below image and Hiratsuka Unichi printed in right margin
Seal	"Un" square brown seal in lower right of image
Date	originally March 5, 1930 in the series One Hundred Views of New Tokyo (ShinTokyo hyakkei).  Date for this printing is unknown.
Edition	numbered 60 of 100.  Hiratsuka did not tightly control his editions and it is apparent that this print existed in several states.
Publisher	The original edition prints for One Hundred Views of Tokyo were published by the Takujo group through Nakajima Jutaro of the publishing firm called Nihon Sosaku Hanga Club.
Printer
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	excellent
Genre	sosaku hanga (creative print)
Miscellaneous
Format	chuban
H x W Paper	8 x 10 3/4 in. (20.3 x 27.3 cm)
H x W Image	7 x 9 1/2 in. (17.8 x 24.1 cm)
Collections This Print	Art Institute of Chicago 2005.215; Carnegie Museum of Art 89.28.206.5; British Museum 1987,0316,0.483
Reference Literature	Modern Japanese Prints: The Twentieth Century, Amanda T. Zehnder, Carnegie Museum of Art, 2009, p. 48.