Gallery 3L: Woodblock Prints Signed Sin

The prints and woodlbock printed postcards in this gallery are by an unidentified artist or artists who singed thier works Sin. The artist(s) worked for the publisher Unsōdō in Kyoto apparently from the 1940s and 1950s, although their works were still being offered in the Unsodo 1970 Christmas card catalogue. Many of the images in this gallery are from a series titled Sights of Tokyo. Although nothing appears to be known about the artist, it has been conjectured that Sin may be either a “house name” used by the publisher or a pseudonym for another artist. Many of Sin’s works appear to be miniaturizations and modifications of larger prints by two artists who produced prints for Unsodo, Shiro Kasamatsu, and Asano Takeji. For example, the print of Jijyo Castle afixed to a Unsodo Catalogue (likely from the 1950s-1960s) below is very similar to a design by Asano Takeji except that the season has been changed to winter.

Zōjōji. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock Printed Postcard. 1950s 9.1 x 13.7 cm

Meiji Jingu. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock Printed Postcard. 9.0 x 13.8 cm

Kikyō-mon. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock Printed Postcard. 9.0 x 13.9 cm

Drum Bridge at Kameido Tenjin Shrine. From Sights of Tokyo. 8.9 x 14.0 cm

Jijyo Castle, Kyoto. Second copy. 1940-1950s. 9.0 x 14.0 cm

Sakurada-mon. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock Printed Postcard. Canceled 1959. 8.8 x 13.6 cm

Untitled. Image of a Woman with Umbrella along the Shore in Snow. Published by Unsodo. 1970. 9.1 x 13.8 cm

Untitled. Image of a bamboo grove in winter. Attached to a greeting card. Published by Unsodo. 9.0 x 13.8 cm

Kanda-myōjin. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock printed postcard. 8.9 x 13.9 cm

Benkei Bridge of Akasaka. from Sights of Tokyo. 9.0 x 13.7 cm

Ueno Tōshō-gū. From Sights of Tokyo. 9.1 x 13.8 cm

Ueno Tōshō-gū. From Sights of Tokyo. Woodblock Printed Postcard. 8.9 x 13.9 cm

Zōjōji. From Sights of Tokyo. 1940-1950s. 9.0 x 14.0 cm

Untitled. Image of a blue bird and cherry blossoms.9.0 x 13.9 cm

Untitled. Image of a bird and berries. 8.9 x 13.9 cm