- Ruri-iro no Toki (Azure Hour at Hirosawa Pond) -

The spectacular woodblock print 'Ruri-iro no Toki' ("Azure Hour at Hirosawa Pond") is by Masao Ido. It captures the tranquil beauty of Hirosawa Pond just before nightfall, when the landscape is bathed in luminous shades of blue.

Layered mountains rise beneath an evening sky, while the small island housing Ichibihaku Benzaiten Shrine appears to float peacefully upon the pond in the middle distance. In the foreground, graceful silhouettes of reeds and waterside grasses frame the composition, adding depth and balance. Countless sparkling highlights scattered across the hills and water evoke the shimmer of moonlight, creating a poetic atmosphere of stillness.

Hirosawa Pond was one of Masao Ido's favorite subjects, and he created many memorable works inspired by its ever-changing beauty. This print is a wonderful example of his mastery of blue tones, capturing the quiet magic of the landscape with remarkable elegance and tranquility.

Delicately sprinkled with gold and silver leaf, the print shimmers beautifully as it catches the light, enhancing its luminous atmosphere and evoking the magical serenity of the pond beneath the evening sky. It is a beautiful celebration of nature and one of Ido's most captivating blue landscapes.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 12 5/8 × 17 3/8 inches (32 × 44 cm)
Image size: 10 1/4 × 15 inches (26 × 38.2 cm)
Sheet number: 111/200
Date: 2000
Signed: Hand-signed in pencil by the artist in the lower margin.
Condition: Overall, in good condition with superb colors and crisp details. There are a couple of pinhead-sized ink spots on the margins that are barely noticeable during normal viewing. The verso shows minor paper scuffs along the upper edges from the removal of tape used during a previous mounting. Please refer to the photographs for details.

Handmade Japanese washi paper may naturally contain tiny bark fibers or other small organic inclusions. These are inherent characteristics of traditional washi and are not considered defects.

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