Masao Ido - 冬の角館 (Winter in Kakunodate)

A fabulous print by Masao Ido: 冬の角館 (Winter in Kakunodate). A calm, snow-laden view of the preserved samurai town of Kakunodate (角館) in Akita Prefecture. A softly glowing light behind shoji screens hints at the warmth inside, while a stone lantern and garden stepping-stones rest beneath thick snow. Ido’s use of goma-zuri textures adds depth and delicacy to this serene winter scene, evoking the quiet elegance of Japan’s northern historic towns. ❄️🏯

• Year & Edition: 1989 · Ed. 13/150 (signed, titled & editioned in pencil).
  
• Medium: Woodblock.
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 50.75 cm × W: 36.00 cm · Image H: 42.00 cm × W: 30.50 cm.
  Condition: Lovely. Strong colour, unblemished image. Crisp paper with light browning & faint mat line to outer margins.
  
• Notes: Kakunodate (角館) is known as “Little Kyoto of the North” for its well-preserved Edo-period samurai architecture. A designated Important Preservation District, it is also famed for its seasonal contrasts - cherry blossom in spring, snow in winter.

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]