- Teppai (Bamboo Raft) -

The remarkable small-format woodblock print "竹筏 - Teppai" (Bamboo Raft) is by Toraji Ishikawa (1875–1964) and was printed in Taishō 7 (1918). Around 1917–1918, Ishikawa traveled to Taiwan, where he created a number of works depicting its harbors, boats, and everyday waterfront life. This print portrays a teppai, a traditional Taiwanese raft made by lashing together the trunks of large bamboo. Commonly used for fishing and transportation, these distinctive vessels were a familiar sight along Taiwan's rivers and coastal waters during the early twentieth century.

Rendered with economical lines and warm colors, the composition beautifully captures the quiet charm of the working raft floating upon calm water. The restrained palette and generous use of negative space create a refined, almost sketch-like quality that is characteristic of Ishikawa's early work. Though small in size, the print conveys a wonderful sense of tranquility and timeless simplicity.

The title "竹筏" (Teppai) appears in the upper right corner of the image, while the artist's seal "寅" (Tora) is in the lower left corner.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 5 1/4 × 8 1/2 inches (13.5 × 21.5 cm)
Image size: 4 1/8 × 5 7/8 inches (10.5 × 15 cm)
Date: Taishō 7 (1918)
Signed: The artist's seal "寅" (Tora) appears in the lower left corner of the image.
Condition: Overall in good condition for its age. There is age toning, along with several light creases and a few very faint spots in the margins. A diagonal crease is present at the lower right corner, extending slightly into the image area. Please refer to the photographs.
*Handmade Japanese washi paper naturally contains small bark fibers, which are characteristic of the paper and are not considered defects.

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