Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A captivating color woodblock print featuring a stone archway framing a distant coastal landscape, executed in the Shin-hanga style. This piece represents a unique cross-cultural collaboration where Western watercolor sensibilities met the precision of Japanese master carvers and printers.
Story
Elizabeth Keith traveled to Asia in 1915 for a short visit but stayed for nine years. Her sketches were so evocative that a Japanese publisher convinced her to turn them into woodblock prints, sparking a global sensation.
Maker / Origin
Elizabeth Keith was a self-taught Scottish artist who became a leading figure in the Shin-hanga (New Print) movement. She worked closely with the legendary publisher Shōzaburō Watanabe, who helped her translate her vibrant sketches into the complex medium of woodblock printing.
Condition & Value
The print shows visible foxing (brown spotting) on the matting and potentially the paper itself, along with some light-strike fading. Professional cleaning by a paper conservator could significantly improve the visual appeal and value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.