Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Nijo Castle Kyoto

An early evening view of Nijo Castle in Kyoto.  A full moon breaking through a cloudy sky casts its light on the waters of the moat around Nijo Castle.  Trees and the rippling water soften the stone moat and castle structure.  A beautifully constructed work with skilful use of light.

Signed Koitsu, with red artist’s seal. Originally published in 1933 this is a later edition bearing the date Showa 8 April (1980 to 1990). The Publisher is Doi Ei-Ichi and the carver is Harada and printer is Hamano.

Koitsu honed skills under Kobayashi Kiyochika. He became known for his dramatic landscapes with a skilful use of light and shade.

Approximate dimensions of sheet are 41 cm height and 19 cm width.

Approximate dimensions of print are 36.5 cm height and 16.5 cm width.

Shipping is via Australia Post and includes tracking and signature on delivery.

Tsuchiya Koitsu 1870 – 1949

Nijo Castle is a very large castle in Kyoto with expansive gardens.

Construction on the current castle started in the beginning of the 17th century by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is fortified by two rings of long walls and moats. Shown in this woodblock print is the outer ring and one of its watchtowers.  The low walls stretch raise some doubts about their defensive effectiveness.  The Shogun intended Nijo castle to just slow down an enemy to gain enough time for reinforcements from regions close to Kyoto to arrive.

Through the years the castle was never attacked although fires sometimes destroyed part of it.