Noel Nouet, "Ryogoku Bashi"

Built in the mid-17th century, the Ryogoku Bridge spans the Sumida River and is a regular subject in Japanese woodblock prints. Here, the Ryogoku serves as the backdrop for modern Japan, with the bustling vibrancy of people and cars going about their day. 

The prints of Frenchman Noel Nouet were first produced by the publisher Doi Sadaichi in the 1930's from Nouet's pen sketches. The carvers employed by Doi took great care to replicate Nouet's pen strokes when carving the blocks, producing woodblock prints that look like illustrations. Pre-WWII editions of Nouet’s prints are exceptionally rare. Tokaido Arts is pleased to offer a selection of ten designs printed in the post-war period from the original woodblocks.

Date: 1936
Size: Oban (approx. 9" x 14")
Later edition (Ito/Endoh Seal, c. 1970s)
Publisher: Doi Eiichi
Condition: Fine
Frame Shown: 16" x 24" x 1/2", Modern Metal, Grey

Noel Nouet (1885-1969) is one of a handful of well-known artists from the West who established themselves as important figures in Japanese woodblock printmaking in the early 20th century (e.g. Elizabeth Keith, Paul Jacoulet, Lillian Miller). Primarily a poet and writer, Nouet was also an illustrator whose sketches caught the attention of the Doi publishing house. There are only about two dozen known woodblock prints by Noel Nouet.