Masao Ido - 朧夜 (Moonlit Night)

A fabulous print by Masao Ido: 朧夜 (Moonlit Night). This atmospheric view looks toward the famed Five-Storied Pagoda (五重塔) of Kōfuku-ji Temple in Nara, softly illuminated under a silvered moon. The temple’s tiled rooftops stretch across the foreground in subtle yosemune-zukuri (hip-and-gable) style, while a misty Kasuga mountain ridge fades into the horizon beyond. The shimmering mica powder applied to the sky lends a subtle glow, heightening the quiet dignity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 🌕🏯

• Year & Edition: 1991 · Artist Proof (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 33.50 cm × W: 45.25 cm · Image H: 26.00 cm × W: 38.25 cm.
  
• Condition: Fabulous. Beautiful colour with no notable marks or blemishes.
  
• Notes: Founded in 669 CE, Kōfuku-ji (興福寺) remains one of the most important temples of the Nara period and is home to Japan’s second tallest wooden pagoda, standing over 50 metres tall. Ido’s use of silver mica (雲母刷り, kirazuri) adds a luminous atmosphere to this meditative composition. 🌌🌿

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]