Title: Katsura Moonlight. Ed.8/100.
Artist: Clifton Karhu (1927-2007).
Signed & Dated: Titled, editioned, & signed in pencil to plate. Dated 1982.
Medium: Woodblock Print.
Paper Size: Approx: H: 48.00cm x W: 37.75cm. (Image Size: H: 40.00cm x W: 30.00cm).
Condition: A near archival/museum quality piece. Pristine, image face unmarked with strong vibrant colour. Paper clean/as new with no browning or mount-lines. Likely never framed. Paper edges sharp & intact. Two faint browning spots to left outer margin (See photo). Wonderful. Please refer to photos / Contact for any further questions/photos/& condition report.
Notes: Katsura: One of Clifton Karhu’s most successful & beautiful themes of work printed through the late 1970’s/early 80’s to which he celebrates the crown-jewel of Kyoto’s Japanese architecture: The Katsura Imperial Palace (桂離宮). Capturing scenes from within the Imperial Palace’s vast decorative gardens, ponds, stone lanterns, bridges, & beautiful out-buildings/tea houses; Karhu depicts the palace in many differing light of season, weather, & time of day in his prints. Karhu’s quintessential “Katsura'' shot however is one out across the Imperial Palace’s three aligned Shoin drawing rooms - a perspective through the moon viewing veranda (“Tsukimidai”) of the 古書院 Koshoin toward the 中書院 Chu-Shoin and 新御殿 Shin-goten beyond.
“Katsura Moonlight” is one of Karhu’s most iconic & collectible prints. Not only does the moonlight scene echo the historical stature & purpose of the Imperial Palace - a site developed by Prince Hachijō Toshihito (1579–1629) to offer formal entertaining & full unobscured viewing of the moon throughout the year to the social elite -, but the print was also chosen to cover Mary & Norman Tolman’s 1982 book: “People who make Japanese prints: A personal glimpse”. Owning both a limited edition copy of the book & an original “Katsura Moonlight” print to accompany it would be a true prize to any Karhu collection. One of Karhu’s finest designs: a wintry evening scene across the 古書院 Koshoin’s moon viewing veranda (“Tsukimidai”) toward the lit 中書院 Chu-Shoin beyond. The moon above.
Title: Katsura Moonlight. Ed.8/100.
Artist: Clifton Karhu (1927-2007).
Signed & Dated: Titled, editioned, & signed in pencil to plate. Dated 1982.
Medium: Woodblock Print.
Paper Size: Approx: H: 48.00cm x W: 37.75cm. (Image Size: H: 40.00cm x W: 30.00cm).
Condition: A near archival/museum quality piece. Pristine, image face unmarked with strong vibrant colour. Paper clean/as new with no browning or mount-lines. Likely never framed. Paper edges sharp & intact. Two faint browning spots to left outer margin (See photo). Wonderful. Please refer to photos / Contact for any further questions/photos/& condition report.
Notes: Katsura: One of Clifton Karhu’s most successful & beautiful themes of work printed through the late 1970’s/early 80’s to which he celebrates the crown-jewel of Kyoto’s Japanese architecture: The Katsura Imperial Palace (桂離宮). Capturing scenes from within the Imperial Palace’s vast decorative gardens, ponds, stone lanterns, bridges, & beautiful out-buildings/tea houses; Karhu depicts the palace in many differing light of season, weather, & time of day in his prints. Karhu’s quintessential “Katsura'' shot however is one out across the Imperial Palace’s three aligned Shoin drawing rooms - a perspective through the moon viewing veranda (“Tsukimidai”) of the 古書院 Koshoin toward the 中書院 Chu-Shoin and 新御殿 Shin-goten beyond.
“Katsura Moonlight” is one of Karhu’s most iconic & collectible prints. Not only does the moonlight scene echo the historical stature & purpose of the Imperial Palace - a site developed by Prince Hachijō Toshihito (1579–1629) to offer formal entertaining & full unobscured viewing of the moon throughout the year to the social elite -, but the print was also chosen to cover Mary & Norman Tolman’s 1982 book: “People who make Japanese prints: A personal glimpse”. Owning both a limited edition copy of the book & an original “Katsura Moonlight” print to accompany it would be a true prize to any Karhu collection. One of Karhu’s finest designs: a wintry evening scene across the 古書院 Koshoin’s moon viewing veranda (“Tsukimidai”) toward the lit 中書院 Chu-Shoin beyond. The moon above.
