Masao Ido - 浅の川暮色 (Asano-gawa at Twilight)

A fabulous print by Masao Ido capturing the quiet magic of twilight along the Asano River (浅野川) in Kanazawa. Street lights and warm windows glow across the riverbank, where traditional wooden houses nestle beneath tall trees. A deep blue dusk settles over the stone embankment, while clematis flowers bloom in the foreground. This 1979 edition was published in honour of the 100th anniversary of Utsunomiya (うつのみや) - Kanazawa’s beloved bookstore and cultural hub. 🌙🏮🌸

• Year & Edition: Published 1979. (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
  
• Dimensions: Paper H: 29.50 cm × W: 44.50 cm. Image H: 26.00 cm × W: 38.50 cm.
  
• Condition: Good. No blemishes or marks to image. Paper intact with only faint browning to margin edge.
  
• Notes: Asano-gawa (浅野川) flows through the historic Higashi Chaya district of Kanazawa and has long been a source of poetic inspiration. This piece pays tribute to the river’s timeless presence and to Utsunomiya’s enduring place in the city’s cultural landscape. *Stamped to plate: “うつのみや創業100年記念”.

About the Artist

Masao Ido (1945-2016) was a printmaker known for his Kyoto scenes, brimming with rich greenery, seasonal shades of signature “Ido Green”, and refined goma-zuri textures. Trained in traditional textile dyeing, he turned to woodblock printmaking in the early 1970s, capturing historic townscapes and seasonal views - from Kyoto to Shirakawa-go and the Nakasendō way. Printed with up to 23 colour blocks on handmade Echizen washi, his works are held in major collections including the MFA Boston, U.S. Library of Congress, and the Tokyo & Kyoto National Museums. [ ← View All Works by Masao Ido]