Details

In the late 1990s, Hideo Hagiwara turned his attention away from abstraction to representational compositions, particularly scenes of Mt. Fuji and other mountainous landscapes. This stunning watercolor dates from that period. The piece is executed with swaths of color one might find in a brilliantly colored sky at dusk. Bands of yellows, pinks, reds, purples, blues, and greens intermingle in an atmospheric pool. The mountain ridge, executed in a deep, rich blue and purple, pokes through the brilliantly colored cloud forms. This piece recalls the watercolor work of Emil Nolde, as Hagiwara brilliantly uses color to illustrate and echo the light surrounding a mountain and the atmosphere therein.

Connoisseur's Note

Original Hagiwara works, particularly watercolors, are exceedingly rare. Hagiwara did not often produce original work, but when he did, it was as a respite from woodblock print production. These original works were mainly exhibited alongside his prints but rarely offered for sale. This stunning watercolor showcases the artist’s spellbinding mastery of light and color. This piece is a rare opportunity to see Hagiwara at work in a very different medium. The work is signed in the lower-left corner in Hagiwara’s distinctive seal on his original works. The paper label attached to the verso contains the title. The watercolor is in excellent condition.