Original Woodblock Print “Pine Law” by Arai Yoshimune II, 1873 LS#209

An original Meiji-period woodblock print by Arai Yoshimune II (新井芳宗, 1863 – 1941)—also known as Utagawa Yoshimune II—from the narrative series Thirty-Six Selected Tales of Snow (摂雪三十六談 Setsugetsuroku Sanjūrokuban), published by Akiyama Buemon (秋山武右衛門). The design is titled “Pine Law” (法語松 Matsu Hōgo).

In this witty and sharply composed scene, a startled samurai reacts as snow drops unexpectedly from a pine branch above, while a monk observes with quiet amusement from a nearby window. The work blends humor, seasonal symbolism, and moral commentary—a hallmark of the Setsugetsuroku series, in which natural phenomena mirror human folly and insight.

Printed in soft, refined colors with subtle bokashi shading and embossed snow effects, the piece showcases Yoshimune’s early technical skill and narrative flair, continuing the ukiyo-e tradition into Japan’s modern era.

• Artist: Arai Yoshimune II (新井芳宗, 1863 – 1941)

• Series: Thirty-Six Selected Tales of Snow (摂雪三十六談 Setsugetsuroku Sanjūrokuban)

• Title: “Pine Law” (法語松 Matsu Hōgo)

• Date: 1873 (Meiji 6)

• Publisher: Akiyama Buemon (秋山武右衛門)

• Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e)

• Dimensions: Oban

• Condition: Good with moderate toning and minor surface wear; print mounted to backing board.

• Provenance: From the Shogun’s Gallery collection, Portland, Oregon.

Artist Biography — Arai Yoshimune II (新井芳宗, 1863–1941)

Arai Yoshimune II, born Utagawa Yoshimune II in 1863, was the eleventh and youngest son of Utagawa Yoshimune I (1817–1880), an artist of the celebrated Utagawa school. Raised in the Kinroku-chō district of Tokyo, he studied from a young age under the master Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892)—one of the last great ukiyo-e innovators—and at thirteen took the art name Toshiyuki (年行). Following his father’s death, he was adopted by the Arai family and in 1882 assumed the name Arai Yoshimune, succeeding as Yoshimune II.

Working through Japan’s transition from the Edo to the Meiji and Taishō periods, Arai Yoshimune became active as both an illustrator and print designer. His best-known works were produced for the Hasegawa and Nishinomiya publishing houses, including atmospheric landscapes for Hasegawa’s celebrated Night Scenes series. His work bridges the classical ukiyo-e idiom and the emerging sensibility of modern Japanese printmaking—balancing the elegance of Edo craftsmanship with the luminous realism of Meiji-era color printing.