About This Print
One of twelve small-size prints (approx. 5 x 6.5 in.) from the portfolio titled New Famous Places of Kyoto (志ん京都名所 Shin Kyōto meisho), designed by the artists Kamei Tōbei (1901-1977) and Tokuriki Tomikichirō (1902-2000)*, and published by the New Famous Places of Kyoto Publication Society (新京都名所刊行会).The two artists often collaborated and the publishing entity New Famous Places of Kyoto Publication Society, is likely a construct of the two artists.
Gion Shinbashi is specified as a "traditional building preservation district". Its history goes back to the early Edo period when a road, Nawate-dori, was built westward from the Sanmon-Gate in Chion-in Temple, passing through six towns in Gion and spanning a bridge downstream of Shirakawa.
last update:
This print provides us with a view of a small bridge over the Shirakawa river in Gion Shinbashi. A kimono clad woman on the right enters the frame with umbrella in hand on this rainy day.
The top print above appears never to have been mounted and inserted into the complete portfolio, as it maintains small margins and is not backed and the bottom print, pasted onto a heavy backing paper, has been removed from the original portfolio.
* It is unclear if Tokuriki actually designed any of the prints themselves as all the prints carry some version of Kamei's artist seal.
* It is unclear if Tokuriki actually designed any of the prints themselves as all the prints carry some version of Kamei's artist seal.
The Complete Portfolio
Six or more of the print designs in this portfolio seem to have also been issued at another time, possibly printed using different blocks. The website of The Agency of Cultural Affairs - Cultural Heritage Online contains six of these prints, with each print visibly different from the prints in this collection. As with this collection's prints, their prints are not dated, but they attribute the prints to Kamei Genbei, a name used by Kamei after 1953, which helps narrow the publication dates to post-1953.
Comparison of the Two Editions
| This Collection's Print IHL Cat. #804 | Print from the website of The Agency of Cultural Affairs 版画集 『新京都名所 [New Famous Places of Kyoto]』 原画 5 祇園新橋附近 [Gion Shinbashi Neighborhood] はんがしゅう しんきょうとめいしょ げんが 5 ぎおんしんばしふきん 亀井 玄兵衞 (かめい げんべい) [Kamei Genbei （1901－1977)] 制作年不詳 [production year unknown] 本紙12.4×15.8cm [4.88 x 6.22 in.] ／ページ寸22.8×27.8 cm [size of page print is mounted on.] The Agency of Cultural Affairs - Cultural Heritage Online [from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama] http://bunka.nii.ac.jp/SearchDetail.do?heritageId=221433 |
Gion Shinbashi
Source: Kyoto Travel Guide website http://www.kyotokanko.co.jp/en/gion/shiseki/shinbashi.htmlGion Shinbashi is specified as a "traditional building preservation district". Its history goes back to the early Edo period when a road, Nawate-dori, was built westward from the Sanmon-Gate in Chion-in Temple, passing through six towns in Gion and spanning a bridge downstream of Shirakawa.
Gion Shinbashi today - bridge over Shirakawa River
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #804 and #2193 |
| Title | Gion Shinbashi Neighborhood 祇園新橋附近 |
| Series | New Famous Places of Kyoto 志ん京都名所 |
| Artist | Kamei Tōbei (1901-1977) |
| Signature | not signed |
| Seal |  |
| Date | after 1953 |
| Edition | unknown |
| Publisher | 新京都名所刊行会 New Famous Places of Kyoto Publication Society |
| Impression | #804 and #2193: excellent |
| Colors | #804: fair - fading; #2193: excellent |
| Condition | #804: fair - foxing throughout #2193: excellent (mounted to original portfolio backing) |
| Genre | sosaku hanga (creative print) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | yotsugiri |
| H x W Paper | #804: 5 1/16 x 6 9/16 in. (12.9 x 16.7 cm) #2193: 4 13/16 x 6 3/8 in. (12.2 x 16.2 cm) #2193 backing paper: 7 1/16 x 8 1/4 in. (17.9 x 21 cm) |
| H x W Image | #804: 4 7/8 x 6 7/16 in. (12.4 x 16.4 cm) #2193: 4 13/16 x 6 3/8 in. (12.2 x 16.2 cm) |
| Collections This Print | The Agency of Cultural Affairs - Cultural Heritage Online 221433 |
| Reference Literature |
10/10/2019
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