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<b>ABUMI KANNON, BINGO</b> / Kawase Hasui1939<B>SOLD</B></em>
ARTIST: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
TITLE: Abumi Kannon, Bingo
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1939
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 x 10 3/4 inches
CONDITION: Pristine, with sharp and vivid colors—no condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Kendall H. Brown, Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, 2003, pl. 438
NOTE: Watanabe C-Type seal—first-state
SOLD
Details
The colors of this print are stunning—they are printed with great subtlety and exhibit the range of colors and effects possible in woodblock printing that demonstrate why Japanese prints are sought after by collectors the world over. The vibrant colors at left come in sharp contrast to the darker earthier tones in the rock and temple at right. The variation in colors is made even more striking by the variety of textures the artist has chosen to utilize. In the darker tones, we find tactile earthier qualities that make the brighter fleeting colors from dawn seem that much more transient, almost filling the sails of the boat and propelling it forward.
Connoisseur's Note
This impression, with the rich scarlet in the sky and in the water, is a rare color variant and has much deeper colors throughout the design than the commercial version found in the catalog raisonne. This print is a true time capsule. It was never framed or displayed and was stored in archival boxes. Prints in this pristine condition seldom come up for sale. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to own a stunning Hasui design with fresh and vivid colors in its original state.
