Noel Nouet, "Nihonbashi"

The bridge at Nihonbashi in Tokyo has carried pedestrians and vehicles across the Nihonbashi River for over 400 years. Here, pedestrians cross the bridge on a rainy day, while a man in a boat floats underneath. The steel and stone bridge seen here was built in 1911 and is an homage to early 20th century modern Japan. 

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 (Seki/Endoh Seal, c. 1980s)
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.