Bidspirit auction | Color woodcut by Kiyochika Kobayashi

Color woodcut by Kiyochika Kobayashi from the series Kyodo Risshi no Motoi - Color woodcut by Kiyochika Kobayashi from the series Kyodo Risshi no Motoi Japan, Meiji period, 1835-1900. Color woodcut on Washi (Japanese paper). Dimensions: 24.3 × 35.3 cm. The sheet is loose. Series: Kyodo Risshi no Motoi (Foundations of Morality and Success). Theme: Shushuki, walking in the rain. Condition: Very well preserved; slightly browned. The series was published by Heikichi Matsuki of the publishing house Daikokuya, a company founded in 1763 and known for its high-quality woodblock print designs. Daikokuya commissioned leading artists of that time, including Yoshitoshi, Toshikata, Kiyochika, and Kunichika, to create these wonderful designs. Beautifully detailed with fine lines and soft shading, these magnificent Meiji-era prints were awarded by the Japanese government when the series was completed in 1890, as they encompassed such uplifting and noble themes. First editions feature a patterned border in various colors, while the 1902 edition has plain paper frames.