Takeuchi Seiho – Seiho Shugacho Vol. 4 – Antique Japanese Woodblock Print Album, Meiji Period c. 1901

Antique fourth volume of Seiho Shugacho, a series based on designs by Takeuchi Seiho and first published in Kyoto in 1901.

The paper, printing, binding, and overall construction of this copy are consistent with an early Meiji-period issue of the series, circa 1901.

An example of Volume 4 is held in the collection of the British Museum, where it is catalogued as a Meiji-period woodblock-printed illustrated book dated 1901.

The album contains a contents leaf and 12 woodblock-printed compositions on paper. Volume 4 includes the use of color printing.

The subjects include Hotei with a cloth sack, a sparrow, pine and moon, sweetfish, goldfish, a crane, plovers, chickens, a lion, a herdboy, the Naruto whirlpools, and a samurai warrior.

Seiho Shugacho was issued as a four-volume series. The first two volumes were predominantly monochrome, while the third and fourth included more elaborate compositions using color.

Although conceived as an album of artistic models, the quality of the printing, paper, covers, and binding also made Seiho Shugacho an independent work of book art. The series was represented in the Japanese books and publications section of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

About the Artist

Takeuchi Seiho (1864–1942) was one of the leading Japanese painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a central figure in the Kyoto art world.

He studied under Kono Bairei and developed the traditions of the Shijo school. Following his journey through Europe in 1900, Seiho incorporated selected principles of Western realist observation while retaining the foundations of Japanese painting.

Details

Artist: Takeuchi Seiho, 1864–1942

Title: Seiho Shugacho

Volume: 4 of 4

Date: circa 1901

Period: Meiji

Origin of the series: Kyoto, Japan

Technique: woodblock printing, including color printing

Material: paper

Binding: traditional Japanese thread binding

Contents: contents leaf and 12 woodblock-printed compositions

Dimensions: approximately 18 × 25 × 0.5 cm
Approximately 7.1 × 9.8 × 0.2 inches

Condition

Antique condition.

The cover shows age-related spotting, discoloration, surface traces of storage, and minor wear to the edges and corners. The binding has natural signs of age.

The interior pages show light age toning and occasional small spots. The contents leaf and all 12 illustrations listed for Volume 4 are present.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Shipping

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido). Protective packaging.

For US buyers: US customs processing is prepaid through the shipping service, so no additional customs processing payment is required upon delivery.