- Zakuro ni Budou (Pomegranates and Grapes) -

This exceptionally rare woodblock print, Zakuro ni Budō (Pomegranates and Grapes), is by Kiyochika Kobayashi (1847–1915). It depicts ripe pomegranates and clusters of grapes arranged on a small table. The split-open fruit and dramatic play of light and shadow reveal the influence of Western still-life painting, which inspired many Japanese artists during the early Meiji era.

Kiyochika illuminates the fruit against the dark background with remarkable subtlety, giving the composition a striking sense of depth, texture, and quiet realism. Printed during the Meiji era, circa 1879–1881, the design displays the artist’s masterful blending of Japanese woodblock technique with Western approaches to light and form. The artist’s signature appears in the lower right, and the print was published by Heikichi Matsuki.

Examples of this rare design are held in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; the Tokyo National Museum; the Minneapolis Institute of Art; and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 15 × 10 inches (38 × 25.5 cm)
Image size: 14 5/8 × 9 5/8 inches (37.2 × 24.5 cm)
Sheet number: N/A
Date: 1879–1881
Condition: Overall in good condition for its age. The print was framed for an extended period, resulting in faint mat lines along the left side and upper edge. There is minor damage to the upper margin corners, a couple of faint stains within the image, and minor creases at the corners. The verso has minor paper scuffing along the edges from having previously been tipped to Japanese paper. Despite these age-related imperfections, this rare Meiji-era print remains in good overall condition. Please refer to the photographs for details.: 

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