Ito Sozan, "Two Crows and Half-Moon"

This woodblock print by Ito Sozan depicts two crows perched on a tree branch beneath a waning moon. A rare pre-earthquake impression of a dramatic nocturnal scene characteristic of early shin-hanga design. Beautifully printed and in marvelous condition.

Date: ca. 1920
Size: Tanzaku
First edition, pre-earthquake printing
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Condition: Fine/excellent color and condition

Ito Sozan (1884-?) was a Japanese print artist associated with kacho-e—woodblock prints depicting birds and flowers. He is known to have worked with publisher Watanabe Shozaburo before Watanabe’s later and more famous collaborations with Ohara Koson. Sozan is said to have died relatively young around 1926.