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Noel Nouet (1885–1969) – “Shiba Furukawa”
Japanese Woodblock Print – Doi Eiichi Edition
A beautiful and atmospheric Japanese woodblock print by Noël Nouët, the French poet, writer and artist who became deeply fascinated with old Tokyo and Japanese ukiyo-e.
This work depicts the Furukawa River in the Shiba district of Tokyo on a rainy day. Traditional houses line the narrow waterway, small boats rest along the riverbank, and a temple pagoda can be seen in the distance.
The quiet rain, reflections on the water and extremely delicate lines give this print a distinctive atmosphere that is very different from the more familiar works of Japanese Shin-Hanga artists.
The Unique Appeal of Noël Nouët
Nouët was a French artist who lived in Japan for many years. He was deeply influenced by Utagawa Hiroshige and spent countless hours walking through Tokyo, recording its streets, waterways, temples and historic neighborhoods in detailed pen-and-ink sketches.
His drawings presented a special challenge to traditional Japanese woodblock craftsmen. Unlike the flowing brushwork normally associated with Japanese woodblock prints, Nouët’s images were composed of extraordinarily fine and precise pen lines.
The Doi publishing house succeeded in translating these delicate lines into woodblocks, creating a fascinating combination of Western pen-and-ink drawing and traditional Japanese woodblock printing.
This is one of the qualities that makes Nouët’s prints so distinctive. From a distance, the work has the appearance of an old European-style illustration; viewed closely, however, the subtle woodblock textures, tonal gradations and impressions in the paper reveal the craftsmanship of traditional Japanese mokuhanga.
Nouët’s Tokyo prints have sometimes been described as the work of “Hiroshige IV”, reflecting his admiration for Hiroshige and his fascination with the historic landscape of Tokyo.
Edition & History
This print was published by Doi Eiichi (Doi Hanga) as a later edition from the original woodblocks.
This particular impression was printed more than 50 years ago, making it a vintage Doi edition rather than a recent reproduction.
Artwork Details
* Artist: Noël Nouët (1885–1969)
* Title: Shiba Furukawa / Furukawa River, Shiba
* Japanese: 芝 古川
* Original design: 1936
* Publisher: Doi Eiichi / Doi Hanga
* Medium: Japanese Woodblock Print (Mokuhanga)
* Style: Shin-Hanga
* Edition: Later Doi edition
* Printed: More than 50 years ago
* Image size: approx. 36.5 × 24 cm / 14 3/8 × 9 1/2 inches
The image size of approximately 36.5 × 24 cm is also consistent with other documented Doi later editions of this work.
A particularly attractive work for collectors interested in Noël Nouët, Shin-Hanga, Doi Hanga, Tokyo history, Japanese woodblock prints, and Western artists working within the Japanese print tradition.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.
