Artist Signature: Yuhan
Publisher: Nishinomiya Yosaku

A beautifully atmospheric print of a dusk scene at Miyajima by Ito Yuhan. The print shows the Itsukushima Shrine, two of the buildings either side of the scene. In the background is the famous floating torii gate seen through the mist. The full moon is low in the sky and is reflecting in the water.

Ito Yuhan (1882-1951) was a Shin hanga artist who designed a series of woodblock prints in the 1930’s for publisher Nishinomiya Yosaku. Little is known of Yuhan’s life, he is most known for his woodblock prints in vibrant tones and subtle graduations which resemble watercolours due to the absence of black key outline blocks. He is recognised for producing multiple perspectives of Miyajima depicted in blue tones. Several sources suggest he went in to film production in his later life.

Dating Yuhan’s prints precisely is hard to establish. Yuhan’s lack of use of key blocks in his prints means spotting signs of degradation in the block itself is not present. His prints are also rare so there are few comparison prints accessible that can firmly establish a specific date. The majority of his works were first published in the 1930’s.