Masao Ido - 北山月照 (Kitayama Moonlight)

A fabulous print by Masao Ido: 北山月照 (Kitayama Moonlight). A luminous view through the cedar forests of Kitayama - a mountainous area north of Kyoto long famed for its straight-trunked 北山杉 (Kitayama sugi), used in temple carpentry and the art of daisugi (台杉) cultivation. The scene captures soft moonlight emerging through layers of mist and foliage, with the silver-glinting moon highlighted by delicate mica pigments. A beautifully composed vertical piece full of quiet atmosphere and reverence for Kyoto’s mountain landscape. 🌲🌙

• Year & Edition: 1990 · Ed. 169/180 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 45.00 cm × W: 33.00 cm · Image H: 38.00 cm × W: 26.00 cm.
  
• Condition: Excellent. Shimmering mica pigments intact. Clean image and margins. Well preserved.
  
• Notes: The Kitayama region has supplied premium cedar wood to Kyoto’s temples and tea houses for centuries. Its forestry traditions remain central to Japanese architecture and sustainable craft techniques such as daisugi (台杉).

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]