鈥淲inter Snow鈥
(A.P. 6/10). This black and white 12.75鈥 x 12.75鈥 etching, depicts a solid thatched roof structure in good condition with snow mounds and a leafless tree in the foreground. The print reminds one of a somewhat melancholy Japanese winter. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥95 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淭rees in Summer鈥
(68/150). This 3.25鈥 x 4.25鈥 image is a detail of a large tree as one looks up through the branches. It is a study in textures, juxtaposing intricate textures of bark and leaves, against the rugged trunk structure and a soft pale sky. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥97 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淲ater鈥檚 Edge鈥
(A.P. 13/15, INE no. 3). This black and white 8.25鈥 x 9鈥 etching captures village life at the water鈥檚 edge. Compact houses line the immediate shoreline while fishing boats are moored calmly a short distance away.
It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥89 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淐row 4鈥
(85/150). The 3鈥 x 5鈥 image depicts two silhouetted crows siting among intricately etched tree limbs in a winter鈥檚 daylight. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥92 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淐hi shaku-In鈥
(52/150). This 8.25鈥 x 6.25鈥 etching and aquatint image depicts a garden of Chi shaku-In, a Buddhist temple located at the eastern end of Kyoto鈥檚 Shichijo Street. Tanaka Ryohei captures the rich plant life along the bank of a river with a small waterfall and bridge above. In the foreground one sees wooden planks which may be part of a veranda from which to observe the garden from the temple. Signed T. Ryohei 鈥02 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淩eturn to Earth鈥
(42/120). In this 13.75鈥 x 18.25鈥 image, moonlight exposes a traditional wooden structure with a thatched roof that is slowly being reclaimed by the elements. Ryohei carefully records the disappearance of traditional rural life of Japan. The print is signed T. Ryohei 鈥93 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淭suiji, Pine Trees鈥
(35/130). A 9.5鈥 x 11.5鈥 detailed etching of a wall of three impressive trees with thatched and tile roofs in the lower background. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥96 in pencil at the lower left corner.
鈥淭hatched Roofs in Rural Scenery鈥
(48/130). This 9.5鈥 x 15.5鈥 image depicts three thatched-roofed buildings with an entry path. A window in the door of the largest building draws the viewer鈥檚 attention and conveys a subtle sense of human presence. The etching is signed T. Ryohei 鈥97 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淩uin鈥 (Sasayama)
(84/120). The 12鈥 x 15.5鈥 image depicts a large tree in full bloom rising above a dilapidated thatched roof with a second tile-roofed structure adjacent. An open sky of negative space contrasts with the rich texture and detail of the roofs and tree. The etching is signed T. Ryohei 鈥92 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淧补迟丑鈥
(61/100). This 4.5鈥 x 3.25鈥 image depicts a path next to a rock wall with dense bamboo on either side, and with a high tree-covered canopy above. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥00 in pencil at the lower left.
鈥淲inter Day鈥
(44/100). This 3.25鈥 x 4.25鈥砮tching depicts a small village or farm buildings in the distance surrounded by cultivated land and thick wooden underbrush. A small ancillary building stands in the foreground. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥99 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淩ainy Togetsukyo Bridge鈥
(132/150). This 3.5鈥 x 4.75鈥 image depicts an impressive bridge over water with three people carrying umbrellas while crossing. In the foreground are diagonal streaks, suggesting heavy rain. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥95 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淪ummer Day No. 7鈥
(16/150). This 4鈥 x 4鈥 image depicts a thatched roof building with typical peak roof structure, nestled against a hillside and surrounded by lush foliage. It is a masterpiece of juxtaposed textures and negative spaces. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥98 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淐丑辞尘别颈箩颈-罢别尘辫濒别鈥
(43/150). This small 3鈥 x 5鈥 image captures a view through two impressive trees to a body of water below with hills and cultivated land at a distance. The view of Lake Biwa is seen from Chomeiji-Temple. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥95 in pencil at the lower right corner..
鈥淢ountain Village in May鈥
(47/150). A 4鈥 x 4鈥砳mage depicting a view from a higher elevation of a mountain village with terrace farming in the foreground. The terraces appear to cascade toward the village below with hedges and walls defining each terrace. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥90 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淪now Falling on Farm鈥
(108/120). In this 9.5鈥 x 11.5鈥 etching, one鈥檚 eye is drawn along the road to the center of the farm. The sky is full of large snowflakes falling on the buildings and the surrounding landscape. The composition, with its many elements, seems to depart somewhat from Ryohei鈥檚 style. The overall affect is to feel drawn into the center of something still to be discovered. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥95 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淪now and Thatched Roof鈥
(A.P. 1/12). This etching and aquatint printed in green depicts a thatched roof building at night during a heavy snow fall. The piece is signed T. Ryohei 鈥93 in pencil at the lower right corner.
鈥淭emple in Mountain鈥
(A.P. 4/15). This richly textured and detailed 3.5鈥 x 4.75鈥 etching and aquatint depicts an ornamented tile-roofed building surrounded by thick trees and underbrush. The building almost appears to have grown in this environment, as did the plants. It is signed T. Ryohei 鈥91 in pencil at the lower right corner.
Tanaka Ryohei is world-renowned for his intricate etchings of rural Japan. He is best known for his black and white etchings, but he also produced some aquatints and mezzotints. Ryohei did not imagine his compositions, but drew from reality, basing his work on his own sketches of the Japanese countryside. He was passionate about rural Japanese life and through his etchings, captured much of its disintegration in modern times, particularly apparent in 鈥淩eturn to Earth.鈥
Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which lines or areas are incised using acid into a metal plate in order to hold the ink where听aquatint uses powdered rosin (resin) to create a tonal effect.