HM006

Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo – Distant View of Outer Sakurada (No. 6/130)

Original Artist:
Yasuji Inoue (also known as Yasuharu, 1864–1889)

Reproduction Artist:
Unknown

Type:
Reproduction – Hand-printed Woodblock Print

Technique:
Kōsen-ga (Light and Shadow Pictures)

Period:
Showa Period (20th Century)

Size:
• Full Paper frame Size: 230 × 315 mm
• Image (Window Cut) Size: 90 × 150 mm

• Size print: 18cm W X 11.5cm L

Signature:
No reproduction artist signature

Condition:
Very good – no repairs or restoration

Featured Prints:

Distant View of Outer Sakurada (No. 6/130)
"Distant View of Outer Sakurada" is one of Inoue's prominent works depicting the area around Sakuradamon Gate in Tokyo. The print portrays the buildings and scenery around Sakuradamon emerging faintly in the distant view, accompanied by an expansive sky that reflects the urban landscape of the time. This work highlights Inoue's meticulous techniques and is considered a masterpiece of urban printmaking, evoking profound emotions in its viewers through a subtle yet powerful depiction.

About the Series: "True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo"
This celebrated series consists of over 130 woodblock prints that visually chronicle Tokyo’s transformation during the Meiji period. Areas such as Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza, and the Sumida River are featured in works that blend personal emotion with historical documentation. Each piece contributes to a richly textured portrait of a city in flux, where traditional life met rapid modernization.

About the Artist: Yasuji Inoue (1864–1889)
Born in Kawagoe, Saitama, Yasuji Inoue was the eldest son of a kimono fabric merchant. At 15, he began studying under Kiyochika Kobayashi, the pioneer of the Kōsen-ga technique. Inoue mastered and evolved this method, infusing his prints with realistic depictions of light, shadow, and perspective—often portraying quiet street corners, bridges, and everyday life. Despite his early death at age 26 from beriberi, Inoue produced a body of work that is both artistically refined and historically valuable. His prints remain admired in Japan and abroad for their elegance, technical innovation, and emotional depth.

True