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Rare prints and maps...Since 1918! Click here to go to Darvill's home page.

Since Adirondack Retro acquired Darvill's Rare Prints in August of 2022, we have been working tirelessly on our New State-Of-The Art Website. We are excited to announce that it is now up and running and that our massive inventory of Antique Prints and Rare Maps are being transferred over to the new site daily. In addition to the nearly 500,000 prints found on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com, Adirondack Retro offers an eclectic selection of Antique and Vintage Advertisements along with their Limited Edition Giclee Prints. During this transition, customers will still be able to shop and make purchases on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com.

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imao keinen bird

Imao Keinen
The Four Seasons Bird and Flower Albums (Keinen Kacho Gafu)

original antique Japanese woodblock prints from circa 1885-1891

Original antique Japanese woodblock prints over 130 years old.

Imao Keinen (1845–1924)

Born in Kyoto in 1845, Imao Keinen studied painting and calligraphy with Umegata Tokyo and Suzuki Hyakunen. He taught at the Kyoto Prefecture School of Painting, and exhibited in shows in Japan and Paris. One of the most well-known Japanese painters of his time, he became a member of the Art Committee of the Imperial Household in 1904 and the Imperial Art Academy in 1919, both great honors. Keinen earned lasting fame for his beautiful bird and flower designs, or kacho-ga, painted with wonderful lifelike detail.

The Four Seasons Bird and Flower Albums (Keinen Kacho Gafu)

Keinen's most famous work, Keinen Kacho Gafu, is a stunning four-part work of woodblock prints of birds and flowers in the four seasons. Published in 1885-1891, these woodblocks are full oban vertical subjects in a natural soft color palette. Featuring stunning large birds and beautiful small songbirds against scenery like blossoming cherry branches or snow-covered trees, these are exceptional nature prints from the late 19th century. The birds are naturalistically presented in their native habitat, featuring beautiful Japanese plants and flowers. The series was published by Nishimura Soemon in four volumes of forty prints each, with the blocks carved by Tanaka Hirokichi and printed by Miki Jinzaburo.

 

imao keinen kacho-ga

original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #19
[CRESTED MYNA, TORREYA]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #20
[THISTLE, SCHEPHEROPURSE, GRAY WAGTAIL]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches
$140
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #21
[WOODPECKER, CHERRY BLOSSOMS]
Woodblock sheet size: approximately 9 5/8 x 13 7/8 inches
$150
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #22
[2 BIRDS, ORANGE BLOSSOMING FLOWERS]
Woodblock sheet size: approximately 9 5/8 x 13 7/8 inches
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #23
[JAPANESE CHESTNUT & FLYCATCHER]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches
$165
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #24
[NONOCHORID, ARROW HEAD, SMALL JUNCUS, WATERRAIL]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches
$165
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #25
[LARGE CLEMATIS, LALANG GRASS, COMMON CORMORANT]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches

NOTE: THIS IS THE RIGHT HALF OF A DIPTYCH; WE DO NOT HAVE THE OTHER HALF
$125
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #26
[BIRD CAUGHT/KILLED BY ANOTHER BIRD, GRASS GOSHAWK]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches

NOTE: THIS IS THE RIGHT HALF OF A DIPTYCH; WE DO NOT HAVE THE OTHER HALF
$75
original Imao Keinen Japanese woodblock print birds and flowers 1885
REF #27
[EGRETS? IN TREE]
Woodblock Sheet size: approximately 9.5 x 13 inches
"Tipped" on top 2 corners only to backing paper: size about 13 1/8 x 18 1/2 inches

NOTE: THIS IS THE LEFT HALF OF A DIPTYCH; WE DO NOT HAVE THE OTHER HALF
$125
Imao Keinen bird and flower inexpensive reproduction prints from 1984 here
         

Imao Keinen bird and flower reproduction prints from 1984 here

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Thousands of original antique and vintage prints of many different genres