Masao Ido, Ryokufu, 1991, Woodblock Print, Framed

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“ryokufu (green breeze) — zen garden tsukubai woodblock print by masao ido, 1991”

a serene study of a kyoto stone … Read more “ryokufu (green breeze) — zen garden tsukubai woodblock print by masao ido, 1991”

a serene study of a kyoto stone garden, “green breeze” (ryokufu) captures the quiet ritual space around a tsukubai — the traditional stone water basin used for purification before tea ceremony. Ido renders the raked gravel, weathered stepping stones, and scattered fallen leaves with his signature precision, using subtle bokashi gradation to bring the trickle of water and the surrounding moss to life. The layered greens — from deep pine to sun-struck moss — are the hallmark of what collectors call “ido green,” a palette that made him one of postwar japan’s most sought-after moku hanga (creative print) artists.

pencil-signed, titled, and dated by the artist in the lower margin, with his red seal in the composition, this work is numbered 56/180 from a limited edition.

the artist masao ido (1945–2016) was born in japanese-occupied manchuria and settled in kyoto, the city whose temples, gardens, and preserved streetscapes would define his life’s work. He trained first as a textile dyer under koho yoshida before turning to woodblock printmaking under shigechika otsubo, having been inspired by the prints of kiyoshi saito. Ido became a leading figure in the sosaku-hanga (“creative print”) movement, prized for his meticulous compositions and atmospheric use of color. His prints are held in major public collections including the museum of fine arts boston, the library of congress, the tokyo and kyoto national museums, and the florence municipal museum. He later founded gallery gado in kyoto and mentored the next generation of printmakers, including seiji sano.

on japanese woodblock printing (moku hanga) traditional japanese woodblock printing is a collaborative, multi-stage process passed down from the ukiyo-e tradition of the edo period. An artist’s design is transferred to separate carved wood blocks — one for each color — which are then hand-printed in careful registration using water-based pigments on washi paper. The result is a print with distinctive texture, subtle color gradation, and a tactile, handmade quality impossible to replicate mechanically. Ido was known for continuing this exacting craft, working closely with carvers and printers to preserve the technique for future generations.

details

medium: woodblock print on washi paper, pencil-signed, titled, and dated, artist’s red seal

edition: 56/180

print size: h 27 x w 39 cm (h 10.6 x w 15.4 in)

frame: original japanese frame, h 45 x w 57 x d 3 cm (h 17.7 x w 22.4 x d 1.2 in)

origin: japan

date of creation: 1991

colors may slightly vary due to photographic lighting sources or your monitor settings.

wear consistent with age and use. This piece has an attribution mark,
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