Reiji Matsumoto - To the Sea of Stars (星の海へ)
Reiji Matsumoto - To the Sea of Stars (星の海へ)
| Artist | Reiji Matsumoto (Japan, 1938-2023) |
| Year | 2002 |
| Materials | Silkscreen |
| Size | (H)58.0cm, (W)75.0cm |
| Framed | (H)72.0cm, (W)87.5cm, (D)4.5cm |
| Rarity | Limited edition of 250 (No. 120/250) |
| Medium | |
| Signature | Hand-signed by the artist in pencil at lower right; numbered 120/250 at lower left. |
| Condition and Authenticity | Faint toning on verso; mat lightly toned; minor frame chips and dust. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Art Collection House. |
| Provenance | Auction in Japan |
| Frame | Navy-blue lacquered wooden frame with a gold inner fillet; framed size (H)72.0 x (W)87.5 x (D)4.5 cm. Minor chips at corners and light dust. |
'To the Sea of Stars' depicts the Space Battleship Yamato voyaging through the depths of the cosmos, with the distant blue Earth glowing at the lower right. Issued as a hand-pulled silkscreen, the composition distills Reiji Matsumoto's lifelong themes—the romance of space, the yearning for freedom, and the dignity of finite life—into a single, quietly monumental image. The great ship's wave-motion-gun bow opens toward uncharted space, while its bridge and gun turrets are drawn with the meticulous mechanical detail for which Matsumoto is celebrated. Set against a luminous nebula, the vessel embodies the theme of departure toward the unknown that defines his science-fiction universe. Hand-signed by the artist and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, this print appeals to collectors who cherish the founding imagery of Japanese anime culture.