Hiroshi Yoshida (1876–1950)
Morning at Abuto (Abuto in the Morning), from the series Inland Sea Series (Seto Naikai Shu)
1930

Woodblock print, pencil signed and titled in the lower margin, signed Yoshida with artist's red seal lower right, and stamped with the artist's jizuri (“self-printed”) seal in the upper left corner.

This beautiful print belongs to Hiroshi Yoshida's celebrated Inland Sea Series, widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of the shin-hanga movement. Depicting fishing boats resting quietly upon the calm waters of Abuto in the Seto Inland Sea, the composition captures the tranquil atmosphere of early morning through subtle tonal gradations and luminous color harmonies.

The artist masterfully balances the dark silhouettes of the traditional sailing vessels against the soft glow of dawn reflected across the water's surface. Gentle reflections dissolve into the still harbor, creating a remarkable sense of depth and serenity. The restrained palette of muted browns, blues, and silvery grays demonstrates Yoshida's extraordinary sensitivity to light and atmosphere, qualities that distinguish his finest landscape prints.

The Seto Inland Sea held special significance for Yoshida, who returned repeatedly to its picturesque coastlines, islands, and fishing communities. In works such as Morning at Abuto, he transformed an ordinary maritime scene into a poetic meditation on nature, light, and the quiet rhythms of daily life. The composition reflects both Japanese artistic traditions and Yoshida's familiarity with Western landscape painting, resulting in a distinctive synthesis that helped establish him as one of the foremost printmakers of the twentieth century.

Particularly desirable is the presence of the jizuri seal, indicating that the print was produced under the artist's direct supervision and reflects Yoshida's exacting standards of craftsmanship and color control. Such impressions are especially prized by collectors.

Today, Yoshida's Inland Sea Series remains among the most admired achievements of modern Japanese printmaking, celebrated for its technical refinement, atmospheric beauty, and timeless evocation of the Japanese landscape.

{Image size: H 9 1/2 x W 14 3/4 inches (24.5 x 38.5 cm)}, (approximate sheet, oban).
{Frame: H 15 3/4 x W 21 1/2 inches (41 x 56 cm)}.

Moderate toning and signs of mat burn along sides of image. Minor discoloration lower center. Not examined out of frame. For condition report, please contact the Asian Art Department.