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First Day, Three Rivers of Ōe (Alternate Print) | Gakutei × Mokuhankan
First Day, Three Rivers of Ōe (Alternate Print) | Gakutei × Mokuhankan
First Day, Three Rivers of Ōe (Alternate Print) | Gakutei × Mokuhankan
First Day, Three Rivers of Ōe (Alternate Print) | Gakutei × Mokuhankan

First Day, Three Rivers of Ōe (Alternate Print) | Gakutei × Mokuhankan

Sale price $390.00

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The Narrative of Color: Kobai-iro (紅梅色 — Plum Blossom Red)

This alternate impression of Gakutei's 'First Day' offers the collector the rare opportunity to observe how the 'plum blossom red' shifts in warmth and vibrancy between printings. Displayed as a pair, the two impressions invite contemplation of constancy and variation — how the same hopeful beginning can express itself differently, yet remain recognizably the same spirit.

Artist: Yashima Gakutei
Woodblock Print: Mokuhankan
Print Size: Approx. 8 × 7.5 inch
Frame Size: 
About the Japanese 72 Micro Seasons
The Story of Japanese Traditional Colors

Gakutei / First Day, from the Series Three Rivers of Ōe

Life pulses beneath the snow, and the dawn crow heralds the opening of a new era.

Amidst severe cold, a pine symbolizing eternity stands against a blazing first sunrise. The crow, a divine messenger in Japanese mythology, vividly prophesies the moment an old era ends and new hope is born.

Known as the "Last Ukiyo-e Artist," Gakutei masterfully fused the traditional vigor of ukiyo-e with modern dramatic composition during the chaotic Meiji Restoration, when Western techniques were flooding in.

Auspicious energy brimming with vitality, bouncing back from adversity. Perfect for spaces embarking on a new start.

[Connecting the Light of Tradition to Modern Life] Mokuhankan proves that woodblock prints are not mere exhibits behind museum glass, but art that breathes in the palms of our hands and within our daily lives. Led by David Bull, this workshop does more than master ancient techniques; it pushes for the "democratization" of woodblock art by sharing its process with the world. Their work carries a profoundly contemporary perspective: instead of merely preserving tradition, they resonate it with modern aesthetics, elevating it into a comfort that fits our current age.