Masao Ido - 鞆.町並み (Tomo. Townscape)

A lovely print by Masao Ido capturing a quiet backstreet in Tomo (鞆) - the historic port town of Tomonoura in Hiroshima prefecture. Traditional machiya line a gently curving stone-paved alleyway, while electric poles and wires hint at the blend of past and present. In the distance stands the iconic tōrō lantern that marks the waterfront. A peaceful, sharply detailed scene from one of Japan’s best-preserved Edo-period towns. 🪔🏘️

• Year & Edition: 1993 · Ed. 150/180 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
  
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 33.50 cm × W: 45.25 cm; Image H: 26.00 cm × W: 38.00 cm.
  
• Condition: Excellent. Lovely image with no marks or blemishes.
• Notes: Tomonoura (鞆の浦) lies along the Seto Inland Sea and flourished as a shiomachi-minato (潮待ち港) - a tide-waiting harbour for coastal trade during the Edo period. Now part of Setonaikai National Park, the town’s scenic beauty and architecture have inspired films including The Wolverine (2013) and Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008).

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]