Masao Ido - 美保の関 朝陽 (Morning Sun at Mihonoseki)

A fabulous print by Masao Ido: 美保の関 朝陽 (Morning Sun at Mihonoseki). Fishing boats frame the harbour as the morning light spreads across the water. Mount Daisen rises beyond the harbour mouth, its green slopes set against bands of yellow, pink & grey cloud. The still boats, reflected light and open view across the bay create a calm early-morning scene. 🌅⚓

• Year & Edition: 1988. Ed. xxx/180 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 32.00 cm × W: 43.00 cm. Image H: 26.00 cm × W: 38.00 cm.
  
• Condition: A lovely piece. No marks or blemishes. Paper clean and crisp.
  
• Notes: Mihonoseki is a historic harbour town at the eastern tip of the Shimane Peninsula, overlooking Mount Daisen across the water. It once flourished as a port for kitamaebune trading ships and remains closely connected with fishing through Miho Shrine and the worship of Ebisu.

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]