Officially known as Tsuchiya Koitsu, this Japanese artist was best known for his beautiful work associated with woodblock prints.  While his work was not as profound or successful when it came to the production of Shin-Hanga prints as what you would have seen from Hasui Kawase, he still presented some incredible pieces while challenging other artists to strive for better. 

One of the challenges associated with Tsuchiya Koitsu is that pinpointing information about his work is tough.  The reason is that as of today, no comprehensible references have been found specific to Koitsu’s prints.  Even so, historians have been able to catalog at least 100 prints by this artist so we do know that he had significant work done.  One of the fascinating aspects of Koitsu is that over the years, numerous unknown prints have surfaced. 

For example, one collector saw an interesting and reflective woodblock print on sale in Tokyo in 1995.  Not sure, the artist, the print was purchased anyway due to its depiction of a large lantern named DOI, which looked like a restaurant sign.  Over the course of years, research uncovered that this particular print was in fact one created by Tsuchiya Koitsu entitled Ushigome Kagurazaka, which had been published originally in 1939. 

In 1996, you could have seen a beautiful collection of Koitsu’s woodblock prints at the Chigasaki Museum.  Of these, one series known as “Tokyo Views Series” was on display.  The publication of each of these prints was done by a publisher by the name of Doi Sadaichi, which is one way of identifying other works by Koitsu.  The one aspect of this artist’s work that you cannot deny is the stunning color and detail. 

For instance, one of Koitsu’s beautiful pieces features a young Geisha girl near a lake and pagoda at nightfall and during the cherry blossom season.  Published in 1939, this painting offers perfect colors and impression.  Another example of his work is of two Geisha girls as they leave and enter an inn.  The rich coloring and astounding detail of this piece is indescribable. 

Then, there is the rare but gorgeous painting of a large stone lantern and boat on the waterfront around dusk.  This painting is called Yabase Kihan, which was published in 1940.  Perhaps you would like Nagaragawa – Ukai, which is a magnificent and brilliantly colored depicture of fishing at night on the Nagara River.  Each boat features a torch by which to see the fish.  For publication of this painting, it appears to have been done in 1940.  These are just a few examples of Koitsu’s work, which is undoubtedly among some of the finer pieces of his time.