Yoshida, Toshi (1911 – 1995), “Kilimanjaro, Morning”

Notes: This impression comes from Toshi's Special Edition print run, produced in 1984; with yellow hues in the sky and white clouds in the middle distance instead of light blue. A dramatic impression, with more intense colors in the background then the regular edition. Titled, dated and signed in pencil by the artist. Inscribed: "Artist Proof". Acquired directly from the Yoshida Family; properly stored away in a folio and never displayed or handled. To produce the subtle range of color, Toshi used sixteen blocks and fifty separate impressions. As stated: "This woodcut is often considered the most beautiful of all of Toshi's mountain landscapes. Unlike Hiroshi's works with their misty atmospheres, Toshi's early mountain prints feature sharp lines and bright colors. Kilimanjaro, Morning proved to be so popular that when the original edition was close to being sold out in 1983, he decided to create additional versions altering the original colors (Kilimanjaro, Evening and Kilimanjaro, Cloudy). - A Japanese Legacy, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts; pg. 102. One of the world's "Seven Summits", Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain at 19,320 feet.