Beschreibung:

Hashimoto Okiie (1899-1993)Old Castle in Sunset, the Keep of Hikone (Kojo shayo, Hikone-jo tenshu)Showa period, 20th century 
woodblock print, printed signature in Japanese to the right margin Hashimoto Okiie saku (made by Hashimoto Okiie , sealed Hashi, and signed in pencil in Roman script to the bottom margin Okiie Hashimoto dated 1950, titled as above, numbered 16/50
59.7 x 80.3 cm., 23½ x 31⅝ in.Condition reportVery good impression and colour, some toning overall, slight marks to margins, thin backing, slight creases to margins, minor wear to lower left corner, small tear to lower right edge, the reverse with toning.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.Catalogue noteThis design of Hikone Castle in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is based closely on an eponymous watercolour painting executed in 1941. Hashimoto was proficient in watercolour and oil painting, as well as printmaking. Reverting back to this historic site throughout his career, Hashimoto displayed a fascination with the architecture of traditional Japanese buildings which are at the heart of his corpus.
For the original watercolour in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 1955.798, go to:https://www.artic.edu/artworks/84190/watercolor-for-hikone-castle
Born in Tottori Prefecture, Hashimoto graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts as an art teacher in 1924. He worked as a teacher until 1955, creating art in his spare time. It was not until he retired from teaching that he became a full-time artist. He took to the print medium in 1936 after attending Hiratsuka Un'ichi's short course in woodblock printing in Tokyo. He exhibited at the Japanese Print Association for the first time in 1937 and his reputation continued to grow over the following decades. Japanese castles, gardens and landscapes were the predominant subjects of his work, however he went on to produce figure and floral subjects later in his career.
Many examples of his prints are in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, go to: https://www.artic.edu/collection?artist_ids=Hashimoto%20Okiie
And also the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, go to:https://harvardartmuseums.org/collections?q=Hashimoto+Okiie&sort=rank