Early 20th Century Woodblock Print the Tartar Wall Peking by Charles William Bartlett

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A Japanese woodblock print entitled The Tartar Wall, Peking by British artist Charles William Bartlett (1860-1960) created in 1919. This … Read more A Japanese woodblock print entitled The Tartar Wall, Peking by British artist Charles William Bartlett (1860-1960) created in 1919. This rare original state print depicts the outside of the southern boundary of the inner-city wall of old Peking at dusk. Under an indigo blue sky, a lone traveler and his camel stop for a drink before they continue to their journey. The pool mysteriously reflects the dark sky and the silouette of the wall. The print has a tremendously moody ambience that evokes a sense of nostalgia of old Peking. The site it depicts had long been demolished in 1950s and it is not where the second ring road runs through.
The work is signed with red crayon on lower left margin: Charles W Bartlett, with a red ink round 'C' seal in plate. On the lower right corner in plate there are artist's monogram CWB as well as the title. Published by Watanabe.
Provenance: from an American collection.
Note and Reference: This work was printed in three color variations. The one offered is one of the three with grey in contrast with dark blue.
See plate 41 on page 124 of "A Printmaker in Paradise. The Art and Life of Charles W. Bartlett" by Richard Miles. See less